Maaike C Swets. Clark D Russell, Ewen M Harrison, Annemarie B Docherty, Nazir Lone, Michelle Girvan, Hayley E Hardwick, ISARIC4C Investigators, Leonardus G Visser, Peter J M Openshaw, Geert H Groeneveld, Malcolm G Semple, J Kenneth Baillie
Measures to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 have also been effective in reducing the transmission of other endemic respiratory viruses. As many countries decrease the use of such measures, we expect that SARS-CoV-2 will circulate with other respiratory viruses, increasing the probability of co-infections. The clinical outcome of respiratory viral co-infections with SARS-CoV-2 is unknown.
We examined clinical outcomes of co-infection with influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, or adenoviruses in 212,466 adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection who were admitted to hospital in the UK between Feb 6, 2020, and Dec 8, 2021, using the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium–WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol.4 Details on patient recruitment, inclusion criteria, testing, and statistical analyses are included in the appendix (pp 2–3). Ethical approval was given by the South Central-Oxford C Research Ethics Committee in England (13/SC/0149), the Scotland A Research Ethics Committee (20/SS/0028), and the WHO Ethics Review Committee (RPC571 and RPC572, April 2013).