tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Pathogens
. 2022 Apr 7;11(4):445.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens11040445.
The Prevalence and Impact of Coinfection and Superinfection on the Severity and Outcome of COVID-19 Infection: An Updated Literature Review
Samya A Omoush[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jihad A M Alzyoud[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Patients with viral illness are at higher risk of secondary infections-whether bacterial, viral, or parasitic-that usually lead to a worse prognosis. In the setting of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may be preceded by a prior microbial infection or has a concurrent or superinfection. Previous reports documented a significantly higher risk of microbial coinfection in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Initial results from the United States (U.S.) and Europe found a significantly higher risk of mortality and severe illness among hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 and bacterial coinfection. However, later studies found contradictory results concerning the impact of coinfection on the outcomes of COVID-19. Thus, we conducted the present literature review to provide updated evidence regarding the prevalence of coinfection and superinfection amongst patients with SARS-CoV-2, possible mechanisms underlying the higher risk of coinfection and superinfection in SARS-CoV-2 patients, and the impact of coinfection and superinfection on the outcomes of patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coinfection; mortality.
. 2022 Apr 7;11(4):445.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens11040445.
The Prevalence and Impact of Coinfection and Superinfection on the Severity and Outcome of COVID-19 Infection: An Updated Literature Review
Samya A Omoush[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jihad A M Alzyoud[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35456120
- PMCID: PMC9027948
- DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040445
Abstract
Patients with viral illness are at higher risk of secondary infections-whether bacterial, viral, or parasitic-that usually lead to a worse prognosis. In the setting of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may be preceded by a prior microbial infection or has a concurrent or superinfection. Previous reports documented a significantly higher risk of microbial coinfection in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Initial results from the United States (U.S.) and Europe found a significantly higher risk of mortality and severe illness among hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 and bacterial coinfection. However, later studies found contradictory results concerning the impact of coinfection on the outcomes of COVID-19. Thus, we conducted the present literature review to provide updated evidence regarding the prevalence of coinfection and superinfection amongst patients with SARS-CoV-2, possible mechanisms underlying the higher risk of coinfection and superinfection in SARS-CoV-2 patients, and the impact of coinfection and superinfection on the outcomes of patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coinfection; mortality.