SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Co-Infections: Incidence of Viral and Bacterial Co-Pathogens

Singh, Vijay; Upadhyay, Pallavi; Reddy, Jairus; Granger, John

The COVID-19 global pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has created an unprecedented challenge to our healthcare system. Secondary and concurrent bacterial and viral co-infections are well documented for other viral respiratory pathogens however our knowledge regarding co-infections in COVID-19 remains limited. The present study encompasses concurrent testing of 50,419 individual samples for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and other bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens between March and August 2020. Overall a lower rate of viral co-infection was observed in the SARS-CoV-2 positive population when compared to the population testing negative for the virus. Significant levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Epstein-Barr virus co-infections were detected in the SARS-CoV-2 positive population. This is one of the largest surveys looking into the co-infection patterns of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States. Data from the present study will enhance our understanding of the current pandemic and will assist clinicians in making better patient care decisions especially with respect to anti-microbial therapy.