Prevalence of Non-SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Pathogens and Co-Infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the Early Stage of COVID-19 Epidemic

Background: This study aims to reflect the prevalence of non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens and co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the early stage of the COVID-19 epidemic, considering SARS-CoV-2 broke out during influenza season and its symptoms resemble those of influenza. Methods: A total of 685 nucleic acid samples of respiratory pathogens were collected from 1 November 2019 to 20 January 2020 and were detected by the 13 Respiratory Pathogen Multiplex Detection Kit and Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Kit. Results: In Wuhan, human rhinovirus was the most frequent infectious pathogen in November (31.5%) and human respiratory syncytial virus appeared the most in December and January (37.1%, 8.6%, respectively). Detection of SARS-CoV-2 first appeared from January 1 to January 10. Generally, 115 patients of 616 patients (18.7%) from Wuhan were infected with SARS-CoV-2, and only two children were coinfected with other respiratory pathogens. In Taiyuan, influenza A virus was detected most frequently in December and January (30.3%, 12%, respectively) without infection of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: Some cases diagnosed with influenza before routine nucleic acid testing of SARS-CoV-2 were attributed to COVID-19. Co-infection between SARS-CoV-2 and other non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens existed in the early stage of COVID-19 epidemic.

Automated summary

This study investigated the prevalence of respiratory pathogens and co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the early stage of the COVID-19 epidemic. The results showed that human rhinovirus was the most common infectious pathogen in November, while human respiratory syncytial virus appeared most frequently in December and January. Among the patients in Wuhan, 18.7% were infected with SARS-CoV-2, and only two children were coinfected with other respiratory pathogens. In Taiyuan, there was no detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but influenza A virus was detected most frequently in December and January.