tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Eur J Case Rep Intern Med
. 2025 Jan 17;12(2):005068.
doi: 10.12890/2025_005068. eCollection 2025. Co-Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) and Human Coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1)
Laszlo Madaras[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Radean Anvari[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Claudia Schuchardt-Peet[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Abhinav Hoskote[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Rahul Kashyap[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) are two forms of human coronaviruses known to cause respiratory tract symptoms. A co-infection with both viruses is rare, particularly in the United States.
Case description: An 85-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department with recurrent falls, diarrhoea and cough, and whose viral panel was positive for both SARS-COV-2 and HCoV-HKU1. The patient developed bacterial pneumonia and was treated with antibacterial agents and glucocorticoids. His past medical history of atrial fibrillation required careful monitoring and subsequent discontinuation of remdesivir, a medication known to cause adverse cardiovascular effects in COVID-19 patients. The length of stay was also prolonged due to delirium and deconditioning. Ultimately, the patient required an urgent ablation followed by the placement of a permanent pacemaker, and anticoagulation therapy was initiated before discharge. The patient had a favourable outcome given the rarity of this case.
Discussion: COVID-19 patients co-infected with other human coronaviruses should be monitored for disease progression and superimposed bacterial infections. Providers should be cautious with the use of remdesivir in cases of co-infection and in severely ill COVID-19 patients who have a history of atrial fibrillation.
Learning points: This is a rare clinical case of a patient co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1), two forms of coronaviruses; the report presents an epidemiological anomaly and a treatment framework.The importance of close monitoring of bacterial infections in coronavirus co-infections is reinforced.The cautious use of remdesivir in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation in severe or unique COVID-19 disease is recommended.
Keywords: COVID-19; HCoV-HKU1; SARS-COV-2; co-infection.
. 2025 Jan 17;12(2):005068.
doi: 10.12890/2025_005068. eCollection 2025. Co-Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) and Human Coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1)
Laszlo Madaras[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Radean Anvari[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Claudia Schuchardt-Peet[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Abhinav Hoskote[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Rahul Kashyap[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39926579
- PMCID: PMC11801512
- DOI: 10.12890/2025_005068
Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) are two forms of human coronaviruses known to cause respiratory tract symptoms. A co-infection with both viruses is rare, particularly in the United States.
Case description: An 85-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department with recurrent falls, diarrhoea and cough, and whose viral panel was positive for both SARS-COV-2 and HCoV-HKU1. The patient developed bacterial pneumonia and was treated with antibacterial agents and glucocorticoids. His past medical history of atrial fibrillation required careful monitoring and subsequent discontinuation of remdesivir, a medication known to cause adverse cardiovascular effects in COVID-19 patients. The length of stay was also prolonged due to delirium and deconditioning. Ultimately, the patient required an urgent ablation followed by the placement of a permanent pacemaker, and anticoagulation therapy was initiated before discharge. The patient had a favourable outcome given the rarity of this case.
Discussion: COVID-19 patients co-infected with other human coronaviruses should be monitored for disease progression and superimposed bacterial infections. Providers should be cautious with the use of remdesivir in cases of co-infection and in severely ill COVID-19 patients who have a history of atrial fibrillation.
Learning points: This is a rare clinical case of a patient co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1), two forms of coronaviruses; the report presents an epidemiological anomaly and a treatment framework.The importance of close monitoring of bacterial infections in coronavirus co-infections is reinforced.The cautious use of remdesivir in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation in severe or unique COVID-19 disease is recommended.
Keywords: COVID-19; HCoV-HKU1; SARS-COV-2; co-infection.