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Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
Secondary Pneumococcal Disease in Veterans With Viral Respiratory Infections
Lauren A Powers1, Arthur K Chan1, Bethany A Wattengel1
1Department of Pharmacy, Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA.
Influenza and RSV increase the risk of secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) did not elevate this risk in hospitalized patients.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Post-viral bacterial infections, like Streptococcus pneumoniae, are common after influenza and RSV.
- Limited data exists on the association between COVID-19 and secondary S. pneumoniae infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the risk of secondary S. pneumoniae infection following influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients in VA Hospitals (Jan 2015-Mar 2025).
- Assessed S. pneumoniae infection within 30 days of positive influenza, RSV, or COVID-19 test.
- Included 188,721 patients; 8,165 had S. pneumoniae infection.
Main Results:
- Influenza (OR 2.39) and RSV (OR 2.50) were linked to higher odds of S. pneumoniae infection.
- COVID-19 showed decreased odds of S. pneumoniae infection (OR 0.56).
- COPD and smoking also increased S. pneumoniae risk.
Conclusions:
- Influenza and RSV elevate the risk of secondary S. pneumoniae infections.
- COVID-19 does not appear to increase the risk of S. pneumoniae post-infection.
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