Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 with Chlamydia or Mycoplasma pneumoniae: a case series and review of the literature
Alessandra Oliva, Guido Siccardi, Ambra Migliarini, Francesca Cancelli, Martina Carnevalini, Maria D’Andria, Ilenia Attilia, Viviana Danese, Valentina Cecchetti, Roberto Romiti, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Claudio Maria Mastroianni, Paolo Palange, Mario Venditti
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has spread all over the world causing a global pandemic and representing a great medical challenge. Nowadays, there is limited knowledge on the rate of co-infections with other respiratory pathogens, with viral co-infection being the most representative agents. Co-infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been described both in adults and pediatrics whereas only two cases of Chlamydia pneumoniae have been reported in a large US study so far. METHODS: In the present report, we describe a series of seven patients where co-infection with C. pneumoniae (n = 5) or M. pneumoniae (n = 2) and SARS-CoV-2 was detected in a large teaching hospital in Rome. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: An extensive review of the updated literature regarding the co-infection between SARS-CoV-2 and these atypical pathogens is also performed.