Abstract
IntroductionCoinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and another virus may influence the clinical trajectory of emergency department (ED) patients. However, little empirical data exists on the clinical outcomes of coinfection with SARS-CoV-2MethodsIn this retrospective cohort analysis, we included adults presenting to the ED with confirmed, symptomatic coronavirus 2019 who also underwent testing for additional viral pathogens within 24 hours. To investigate the association between coinfection status with each of the outcomes, we performed logistic regression.ResultsOf 6,913 ED patients, 5.7% had coinfection. Coinfected individuals were less likely to experience index visit or 30-day hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36–0.90 and OR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25–0.62, respectively).ConclusionCoinfection is relatively uncommon in symptomatic ED patients with SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical short- and long-term outcomes are more favorable in coinfected individuals.
Highlights
Coinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and another virus may influence the clinical trajectory of emergency department (ED) patients
Coinfection is relatively uncommon in symptomatic ED patients with SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical short- and long-term outcomes are more favorable in coinfected individuals. [West J Emerg Med. 2021;22(6)1262–1269.]
In this retrospective cohort study, which included 86 EDs, we found that coinfection occurs infrequently (5.7%) among symptomatic ED patients, and coinfection was not associated with hospitalization or other unfavorable short- and long-term outcomes
Summary
Coinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and another virus may influence the clinical trajectory of emergency department (ED) patients. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of October 2021 the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has caused an estimated 684 hospitalizations per 100,000 population and 711,020 deaths in the United States.[1] Emergency clinicians decide which patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) to admit to the hospital and these decisions typically take into account patient age, need for supplemental oxygen, and other clinical and laboratory metrics, as well as anticipated clinical trajectory.[2,3] Coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and another virus may influence the short- and long-term clinical outcomes, and co-infection status could inform clinical decision-making in the emergency department (ED). An evaluation of coinfection rates and outcomes for SARS-CoV-2 is necessary and important
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