Co-infection Between COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Pathogens

In a sample of 1200 patients with respiratory symptoms in California, 21% of nasopharyngeal swab specimens that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 also tested positive for other respiratory pathogens, like rhinovirus/enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. Additionally, of those that tested positive for non-SARS-CoV-2 pathogens, 8% also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Writing in JAMA, the researchers conclude, “The presence of a non–SARS-CoV-2 pathogen may not provide reassurance that a patient does not also have SARS-CoV-2.”

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2764787