tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Infect Dis
. 2026 Mar 5:108507.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108507. Online ahead of print.
Characteristics of Respiratory Co-infections in Influenza-like Illness during the Post-COVID-19 Era
Guo Yonghao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tang Yuting[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Luo Huixin[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Seng Minghua[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zhao Sheng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Liu Qian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Dou Qiaohua[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yang Jianhui[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wang Xiaoyang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sun Yalei[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Lv Wanyu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ding Baolong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wang Wenhui[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Feng Daxing[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kong Jiangnan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zhang Xiaoxiao[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhao Yuling[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhang Yanyang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Zhao Dongyang[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: In the post-pandemic era, populations may experience an "immunity debt" due to reduced social interactions. Studying respiratory co-infections in populations is of great significance for precise treatment and the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.
Methods: A prospective surveillance network was established across 24 sentinel hospitals. Respiratory specimens were collected. Nucleic acids were extracted using magnetic bead-based methods and tested by real-time PCR for 10 viruses and 5 bacterial targets. Data were analyzed to determine positivity rates, co-infections, and age-specific patterns using Join-Point regression.
Results: The overall pathogen positivity rate was 64.3% (9,954/15,481). Co-infection with ≥2 pathogens was detected in 26.7% of patients. Influenza virus (IFV) was the predominant virus (20.9% overall), peaking in January 2025 (49.4%). Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was the second most common virus (8.0%). Haemophilus influenzae (21.1%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (17.7%) were the most frequently detected bacteria. Positivity rates exhibited significant age-related variation. Join-Point analysis revealed that the IFV positivity rate increased until age 50. Considerable geographic variation was observed, with the total positivity rate ranging from 53.2% to 82.2% across different cities.
Conclusion: This comprehensive surveillance revealed a high burden of respiratory pathogens and complex co-infection patterns in the post-pandemic era .
Keywords: Acute respiratory infection; Co-infection; Epidemiology; Influenza virus; Multi-pathogen surveillance.
. 2026 Mar 7.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-70432-0. Online ahead of print.
Mapping global avian influenza risk patterns through waterbird activity entropy
. 2026 Mar 5:108507.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108507. Online ahead of print.
Characteristics of Respiratory Co-infections in Influenza-like Illness during the Post-COVID-19 Era
Guo Yonghao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tang Yuting[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Luo Huixin[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Seng Minghua[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zhao Sheng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Liu Qian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Dou Qiaohua[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yang Jianhui[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wang Xiaoyang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sun Yalei[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Lv Wanyu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ding Baolong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wang Wenhui[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Feng Daxing[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kong Jiangnan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zhang Xiaoxiao[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhao Yuling[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Zhang Yanyang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Zhao Dongyang[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41794323
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108507
Background: In the post-pandemic era, populations may experience an "immunity debt" due to reduced social interactions. Studying respiratory co-infections in populations is of great significance for precise treatment and the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.
Methods: A prospective surveillance network was established across 24 sentinel hospitals. Respiratory specimens were collected. Nucleic acids were extracted using magnetic bead-based methods and tested by real-time PCR for 10 viruses and 5 bacterial targets. Data were analyzed to determine positivity rates, co-infections, and age-specific patterns using Join-Point regression.
Results: The overall pathogen positivity rate was 64.3% (9,954/15,481). Co-infection with ≥2 pathogens was detected in 26.7% of patients. Influenza virus (IFV) was the predominant virus (20.9% overall), peaking in January 2025 (49.4%). Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was the second most common virus (8.0%). Haemophilus influenzae (21.1%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (17.7%) were the most frequently detected bacteria. Positivity rates exhibited significant age-related variation. Join-Point analysis revealed that the IFV positivity rate increased until age 50. Considerable geographic variation was observed, with the total positivity rate ranging from 53.2% to 82.2% across different cities.
Conclusion: This comprehensive surveillance revealed a high burden of respiratory pathogens and complex co-infection patterns in the post-pandemic era .
Keywords: Acute respiratory infection; Co-infection; Epidemiology; Influenza virus; Multi-pathogen surveillance.
. 2026 Mar 7.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-70432-0. Online ahead of print.
Mapping global avian influenza risk patterns through waterbird activity entropy