Rapid Identification of some typical and atypical Pneumonia co-infections associated with COVID-19 patients by a real -time PCR assay

Abstract

Bacterial co-pathogens are commonly identified in viral respiratory tract infections. Co-infections with other pulmonary pathogens arisen in COVID-19 patients with the patient population evaluated had laboratory-confirmed corona virus infection. All extracted nucleic acid of nasopharyngeal swabs and sputum specimens which positive for COVID-19 diagnostic assays were submitted to morphological, cultural, biochemical and comparison the results with molecular test (Real time PCR technique) for detection of association of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae with COVID-19 patients. Cultural analysis showed S. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae infection revealed an incidence of 20% and 10% percentage, respectively from 100 patients, while the molecular test were 33%, 13% respectively. Also, the strength of the correlation between age, sex, symptoms vaccinated and unvaccinated patients and its outcomes. From 100 positive COVID -19, medium patient’s age was 55 years, 42% were women, and 58% were male. Cough was the most common submitting a complainant to all age bands (20–39, 40–59,60-79, and +80) 10%, 43%, 43%, and 4%, respectively (p<0.001). Diagnostic tests for known lung pathogens have limits. It was concluded that, despite positive cultural and biochemical not for all typical and atypical pathogens, in an environment where clinical suspiciousness for Corona virus is rise, specific analyses are being conducted for it. So, we are being performed RT-PCR to confirm a diagnosis. The most widespread signs are more presented in the older patients, and more infected with bacterial microorganism S. pneumoniae followed with M. pneumoniae, and with unvaccinated patients higher than vaccinated patients with 87%.