COVID-19 and Influenza Coexistence

Abstract

Objective:Viral pneumonia cases occur quite frequently in the community. The rate of viral infections in community-acquired pneumonia is about 25%. severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza are also viruses that can cause pneumonia. In this study, we aimed to determine the rate of influenza co-infection in Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) cases.Methods:The data of adult patients who applied to Bezmialem Vakıf University Hospital between March 6, 2020, and May 21, 2020, which were positive with the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and influenza antigen test were retrospectively scanned from the hospital automation system.Results:SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was found positive in 498 adult patients who applied to our hospital. Two hundrend-sixty of these patients were hospitalized and 238 were followed up on an outpatient basis. In 88 patients SARS-CoV-2 PCR and influenza antigen were studied, and 6 of them had positive influenza antigen. COVID-19 and influenza co-infection was not detected.Conclusion:In order to determine the exact rate of influenza and COVID-19 co-infection, it is necessary to evaluate the patients who applied with the appropriate clinical picture from the beginning of the seasonal influenza period by using reverse transcription-PCR for these two viral infections, if possible. Further research is needed in this area.

Keywords

• covid-19
• influenza
• co-infection