Open Access

Martin Krammer, Reinhard Hoffmann, Hans-Georg Ruf, Avidan U. Neumann, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Mehmet Goekkaya, Stefanie Gilles

• Clinical data on the types of respiratory pathogens which are most frequently engaged in respiratory co-infections of children and adults is lacking. We analyzed 10 years of data on a total of over 15,000 tests for 16 viral and bacterial pathogens detected in clinical samples at the University hospital of Augsburg, Germany. Co-infection frequencies and their seasonal patterns were examined using a proportional distribution model. Co-infections were detected in 7.3% of samples, with a higher incidence in children and males. The incidence of inter-bacterial and inter-viral co-infections was higher than expected, whereas bacterial-viral co-infections were less frequent. H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, rhinovirus, and RSV were most frequently involved. Most co-infections occurred in winter, but distinct summer peaks were also observed, which occurred even children, albeit less pronounced than in adults. Seasonality of respiratory (co-)infections decreased with age. Our results to adjustClinical data on the types of respiratory pathogens which are most frequently engaged in respiratory co-infections of children and adults is lacking. We analyzed 10 years of data on a total of over 15,000 tests for 16 viral and bacterial pathogens detected in clinical samples at the University hospital of Augsburg, Germany. Co-infection frequencies and their seasonal patterns were examined using a proportional distribution model. Co-infections were detected in 7.3% of samples, with a higher incidence in children and males. The incidence of inter-bacterial and inter-viral co-infections was higher than expected, whereas bacterial-viral co-infections were less frequent. H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, rhinovirus, and RSV were most frequently involved. Most co-infections occurred in winter, but distinct summer peaks were also observed, which occurred even children, albeit less pronounced than in adults. Seasonality of respiratory (co-)infections decreased with age. Our results to adjust existing testing strategies during high-incidence periods.…