A study published in Nature Microbiology shows that dietary zinc deficiency can increase the risk of lung infection by Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria, a common cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found a link between zinc deficiency, IL-13 cytokine, and A. baumannii infection, with blocking IL-13 preventing infection-related deaths in animal models. This discovery suggests that anti-IL-13 antibodies could protect against bacterial pneumonia in patients with zinc deficiency. Nearly 20% of the global population is at risk for zinc deficiency, which impairs immune function and increases pneumonia risk, especially in critically ill patients. A. baumannii is increasingly resistant to antibiotics, posing a significant public health threat. Study findings highlight the potential of anti-IL-13 therapy for patients with zinc deficiency and A. baumannii pneumonia.
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Zinc deficiency linked to increased risk of lung infection
