TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Pulmonary Clearance of Infectious Agents A1 - Standiford, Theodore J. A1 - Huffnagle, Gary B. A2 - Grippi, Michael A. A2 - Antin-Ozerkis, Danielle E. A2 - Dela Cruz, Charles S. A2 - Kotloff, Robert M. A2 - Kotton, Camille Nelson A2 - Pack, Allan I. PY - 2023 T2 - Fishman’s Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders, 6e AB - The primary function of the lungs is the exchange of gases at a rate required to support tissue metabolism. During gas exchange, the lung is continuously exposed to a varied burden of foreign substances, including infectious agents. In addition, microbes immigrate into the lower respiratory tract via subclinical microaspiration of oropharyngeal microbiota.1,2 The lung has the difficult task of defending itself against this potentially hostile environment while maintaining the alveolar architecture required for adequate gas exchange. This group of nonrespiratory antimicrobial functions has been collectively termed pulmonary host defenses.3 SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1195013914 ER -