Cigarette smoke has been found to be harmful to human health.  Smoking increases the risk of cancer, particularly of the throat, mouth and lung and increases instances of respiratory ailments.  One component of smoke, nicotine, appears to be particularly harmful, both in terms of health effects and promoting addictive behavior.  If nicotine and cigarette smoke are harmful to human cells, then they might also have an affect on bacterial growth.  Thus, we hypothesize that smoke may act as an antibacterial agent, reducing chances of smokers contracting common ailments through oral-manual contact such as colds.  To test this hypothesis, an alumnia resin was used to collect and concentrate residue from smoke.  The chemicals collected are on the alumina were then extracted in ethylk acetate to provide a sample of the chemicals present in cigarette smoke.  Three bacterial strains were isolated from hands of Georgian Court students (one smoker, one non-smoker).  Four known strains of bacteria were also cultured.  These cultures were used to inoculate agar plates and inhibition disks loaded with either smoke extract or pure nicotine were placed onto those plates.  Plates were then incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours.  If nicotine or chemicals present in smoke inhibit bacteria, then the area around the disks will not support their growth, resulting in an inhibition zone.  If these chemicals are not in history, bacteria will grow throughout the plate.  Early studies indicated no zones of inhibition using smoke extract.  This may reflect use of an overly dilute solution.  Experiments are currently being repeated using more concentrated solutions.