(5) Secondary Publication: SARS-CoV-2 Co-detection With Other Respiratory Pathogens

Abstract

Co-detection of respiratory pathogens with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the effect of interactions between different respiratory pathogens on clinical variables.

We retrospectively reviewed the results of comprehensive multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing from November 2020 to March 2023 in Shinjuku, Tokyo, estimating co-detection rates and analyzing interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. A multiple logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, and testing period was used to identify factors influencing co-detection.

Among 57,746 patients tested, 10,516 (18.2%) were positive for at least one of 22 pathogens, and 881 (1.5%) had co-detection. SARS-CoV-2 showed negative interactions with adenovirus, other coronaviruses, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhino/enterovirus. Co-detection with SARS-CoV-2 was most frequent in children aged 0-4 years. A multiple logistic regression indicated that younger age was the strongest factor associated with SARS-CoV-2 co-detection.

These findings highlight the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 co-detection in young children, warranting further research on its clinical implications and severity.

This article is based on our study, first reported in the article "SARS-CoV-2 co-detection with other respiratory pathogens-descriptive epidemiological study," published in Respiratory Investigation (2024; 62 (5): 884-8).