Coronavirus co-infection is the simultaneous presence of a coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV-2, together with one or more additional pathogens in the same host, whether other respiratory viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Co-infection matters clinically because a second pathogen can alter the presentation, severity, and manag…
Coronavirus co-infection is the simultaneous presence of a coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV-2, together with one or more additional pathogens in the same host, whether other respiratory viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Co-infection matters clinically because a second pathogen can alter the presentation, severity, and management of coronavirus disease, complicate diagnosis when symptoms overlap, and influence the host immune response and outcomes. The concept sits within the wider study of coronavirus infection, including the dynamics of transmission, host immunity, and the cellular consequences of infection, and it draws on the same molecular and epidemiological tools used to characterize SARS-CoV-2 itself. Relevant considerations include the modulation of antiviral and inflammatory pathways, the role of comorbidity and immune status in susceptibility to additional infection, and the broader context of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in which multiple agents circulate together. Modeling of outbreak risk and analyses of factors shaping infection burden inform when and where co-infection is likely to arise. Sub-areas include viral-viral co-infection with other respiratory viruses, bacterial and fungal superinfection, the immunological interactions between concurrent pathogens, and the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of distinguishing and treating multiple infections. Recognizing co-infection is essential for accurate diagnosis and for tailoring treatment in coronavirus disease.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 26 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Coronavirus Co-Infections, linking to each citing work.