The Opportunistic Infections Related to Recent SARS-Cov-۲ Infection Outbreak

Background and Aim : The role of opportunistic infections in the morbidity and mortality rates of the coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) patients remains challenging in resource-poor settings. Recent studies based on co-infections and superinfections of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲) infection discovered some opportunistic infection in dead individuals including fungal, bacterial and viral infections. Methods : Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome are more susceptible to influence by opportunistic infections. And also, whom received broad-spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressants or corticosteroid, and supported by invasive or noninvasive ventilation are the other high-risk groups. Unnecessary antimicrobial utility for SARS-CoV-۲ infected patients following admission, potentially promoting the selection of drug resistant infections. The respiratory bacterial infections including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common types. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci are more frequent organisms causing bloodstream infection. Fungal co-infection was more diagnosed by Aspergillus fumigatus tracheobronchitis and Candida albicans in bloodstream. Results : Although recent reports announced the frequency of opportunistic infections are uncommon and it is not comparable to the other viral pandemics, but empirical antimicrobial therapy is one of the critical factors that increase opportunistic infections in COVID-۱۹ patients. Conclusion : In conclusion, the reliable risk factors determination is difficult for evaluation, because some factors like genetic variation, chronic disease, etc raised the potential of co-infections and superinfections. In this manner based on WHO recommendation, in mild to moderate COVID-۱۹ patients the antimicrobials treatment should not prescribed without clear indexes of infection.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، SARS-CoV-۲ ، opportunistic infections ، drug resistance