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Background <p>Secondary bacterial infections of the respiratory system are one of the biggest medical concerns in patients undergoing hospitalization with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Opportunistic upper respiratory tract bacterial colonization or carriage typically precedes the majority of lower respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. Few studies have examined the relationship between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and bacterial colonization in COVID-19 patients.</p> Aim <p>This study looked into the link between COVID-19 patients who have SARS-CoV-2 illness and respiratory system bacterial colonization and how this colonization could impact on COVID-19 clinical presentation.</p> Methods <p>This research thus examines this relationship by conducting an analytical, cross-sectional study with 210 COVID-19 patients. The patients are categorized into mild and moderate-to-severe cases, which will be compared with 50 non-COVID-19 controls. All participants provided sputum samples that were subjected to microbiological culture analysis. To identify specific microbes, a VITEK Compact automatic microbiology analyzer was employed.</p> Result <p>The findings of the research highlighted that, as the severity of COVID-19 infection increased, significant changes in bacterial colonization patterns emerged. A normal oral flora was found to be present in the control group, while a notable increase in pathogenic bacteria was evident in those with moderate-severe COVID-19. Furthermore, severe cases presented with Gram-positive bacteria, particularly <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. Additionally, Gram-negative bacteria (i.e., <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>,<i> Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i>) were commonly identified in moderate-severe cases, indicating more extensive bacterial colonization.</p> Conclusion <p>The need to develop more comprehensive approaches to diagnosing COVID-19 and creating targeted treatment plans is highlighted through the increasing presence of Gram-negative bacteria and polymicrobial colonization in COVID-19 cases at admission. Thus, this research highlights the importance of monitoring bacterial colonization in the upper respiratory tracts of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable</p>

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Bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract in COVID-19 patients: potential source of bacterial infection

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月16日

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  • Hafez Al-Momani,
  • Hadeel Al Balawi,
  • Dua’a Al Balawi,
  • Ayman Alsheikh,
  • Iman Aolymat,
  • Ashraf I. Khasawneh,
  • Hala Tabl,
  • Ola Ebbeni,
  • AbdelRahman M. Zueter,
  • Jeffrey Pearson,
  • Christopher Ward

摘要

Background

Secondary bacterial infections of the respiratory system are one of the biggest medical concerns in patients undergoing hospitalization with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Opportunistic upper respiratory tract bacterial colonization or carriage typically precedes the majority of lower respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. Few studies have examined the relationship between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and bacterial colonization in COVID-19 patients.

Aim

This study looked into the link between COVID-19 patients who have SARS-CoV-2 illness and respiratory system bacterial colonization and how this colonization could impact on COVID-19 clinical presentation.

Methods

This research thus examines this relationship by conducting an analytical, cross-sectional study with 210 COVID-19 patients. The patients are categorized into mild and moderate-to-severe cases, which will be compared with 50 non-COVID-19 controls. All participants provided sputum samples that were subjected to microbiological culture analysis. To identify specific microbes, a VITEK Compact automatic microbiology analyzer was employed.

Result

The findings of the research highlighted that, as the severity of COVID-19 infection increased, significant changes in bacterial colonization patterns emerged. A normal oral flora was found to be present in the control group, while a notable increase in pathogenic bacteria was evident in those with moderate-severe COVID-19. Furthermore, severe cases presented with Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, Gram-negative bacteria (i.e., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenzae) were commonly identified in moderate-severe cases, indicating more extensive bacterial colonization.

Conclusion

The need to develop more comprehensive approaches to diagnosing COVID-19 and creating targeted treatment plans is highlighted through the increasing presence of Gram-negative bacteria and polymicrobial colonization in COVID-19 cases at admission. Thus, this research highlights the importance of monitoring bacterial colonization in the upper respiratory tracts of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable