Interaction Between SARS-CoV-2 and Pathogenic Bacteria

The novel human coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which results in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused a serious threat to global public health. Therefore, many studies are performed on the causes and prevalence of this disease and the possible co-occurrence of the infection with other viral and bacterial pathogens is investigated. Respiratory infections predispose patients to co‐infections and these lead to increased disease severity and mortality. Numerous types of antibiotics have been employed for the prevention and treatment of bacterial co‐infection and secondary bacterial infections in patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although antibiotics do not directly affect SARS‐CoV‐2, viral respiratory infections often result in bacterial pneumonia. It is possible that some patients die from bacterial co‐infection rather than virus itself. Therefore, bacterial co‐infection and secondary bacterial infection are considered critical risk factors for the severity and mortality rates of COVID‐19. In this review, we will summarize the bacterial co‐infection and secondary bacterial infection in some featured respiratory viral infections, especially COVID‐19.