Influenza and Bacterial Coinfections in the 20th Century
Author Information
Author(s): Wang Xuan-Yi, Kilgore Paul E., Lim Kyung Ah, Wang Song-Mei, Lee Jeongseok, Deng Wei, Mo Mei-Qi, Nyambat Batmunkh, Ma Jing-Chen, Favorov Michael O., Clemens John D.
Primary Institution: Center for Public Health and Infectious Disease, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University
Hypothesis
What is the impact of bacterial coinfection during pandemic influenza periods?
Conclusion
Bacterial coinfections with influenza are more common during pandemic periods than seasonal ones, with S. pneumoniae being the most frequent pathogen.
Supporting Evidence
- S. pneumoniae was the most common cause of bacterial coinfection during pandemic periods, accounting for 40.8%.
- Coinfection rates were higher during pandemic influenza compared to seasonal influenza.
- The study included a total of 71 articles that met the inclusion criteria.
Takeaway
When people get the flu, sometimes they also get sick from bacteria. This happens more during big flu outbreaks than during regular flu seasons.
Methodology
A review of literature from 1950 to 2006 was conducted, analyzing studies on influenza and bacterial coinfections.
Potential Biases
Most studies were hospital-based and focused on severely ill patients, which may not represent the general population.
Limitations
The study's findings may be affected by variations in laboratory methods over time and a limited number of cohort studies.
Participant Demographics
The majority of studies were from the USA, UK, Japan, and Spain.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% confidence intervals provided for various estimates.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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