The microbiota-related coinfections in COVID-19 patients: a real challenge

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected millions of people around the world, especially the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. The infection transmission rate is considered more rapid than other deadly pandemics and severe epidemics encountered earlier, such as Ebola, Zika, Influenza, Marburg, SARS, and MERS. The public health situation therefore is really at a challenging crossroads.

The internal and external and resident microbiota community is crucial in human health and is essential for immune responses. This community tends to be altered due to pathogenic infections which would lead to severity of the disease as it progresses. Few of these resident microflora become negatively active during infectious diseases leading to coinfection, especially the opportunistic pathogens. Once such a condition sets in, it is difficult to diagnose, treat, and manage COVID-19 in a patient.

This review highlights the various reported possible coinfections that arise in COVID-19 patients vis-à-vis other serious pathological conditions. The local immunity in lungs, nasal passages, oral cavity, and salivary glands are involved with different aspects of COVID-19 transmission and pathology. Also, the role of adaptive immune system is discussed at the site of infection to control the infection along with the proinflammatory cytokine therapy.