Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: Because severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which produces pandemic pneumonia and has a more fatal course than seasonal flu, has no effective treatment, protection against secondary infections is essential in preventing disease-related mortality. The study's goal is to prove a link between seasonal Influenza A-B and SARS-CoV-2 coinfections in the winter, when respiratory tract illnesses are widespread. Methods: This study was designed retrospective. After ethic commitee approval; 515 patients with cold symptoms between November 2, 2020 and February 17, 2021 were included in study. Influenza Antigen Card Plus was used for the detection of influenza. In the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, swab samples taken from both the mouth and nose were studied in the CFX96 Real time PCR device. Patients were divided into groups according to whether the Influenza A-B and COVID-19 PCR tests were positive or negative. The relationship between influenza A-B positivity and SARS-CoV-2 positivity was investigated. Results: The female / male ratio in the 515 patients included in the research was 60.7% / 39.2%. Influenza positivity was found 55.2% in women and 44.5% in men. Influenza-A was revealed to be the most prevalent influenza subtype. Influenza and COVID-19 coinfection was detected in 33.1% of the cases. Influenza-A was