Lung Pathology of Mutually Exclusive Co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and Streptococcus pneumoniae

Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Mar;27(3):919-923. doi: 10.3201/eid2703.204024. Epub 2021 Jan 14.

Abstract

Postmortem lung pathology of a patient in Japan with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection showed diffuse alveolar damage as well as bronchopneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The distribution of each pathogen and the accompanying histopathology suggested the infections progressed in a mutually exclusive manner within the lung, resulting in fatal respiratory failure.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Streptococcus pneumoniae; acute respiratory distress syndrome; autopsy; bacteria; bronchopneumonia; co-infection; coronavirus disease; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; streptococci; viruses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autopsy
  • COVID-19 / pathology*
  • Coinfection*
  • Humans
  • Lung* / microbiology
  • Lung* / pathology
  • Lung* / virology
  • Male
  • Pneumococcal Infections / pathology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification