AUTHOR=Song Huijuan , Zou Siyu , Huang Yi , Wang Yun , Wang Ting , Wei Wei , Sun Ziyong , Hou Hongyan TITLE=The pathogenic and clinical characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome patients with co-infections JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1298050 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1298050 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=Objective

The study aimed to comprehensively describe and evaluate the pathogenic and clinical characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) patients with co-infections.

Methods

We retrospectively collected clinical data and laboratory indicators of the SFTS patients at Tongji Hospital from October 2021 to July 2023.

Results

A total of 157 patients with SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection were involved in the analysis, including 43 co-infection and 114 non-co-infection patients. The pathogens responsible for co-infection were primarily isolated from respiratory specimens. Fungal infections, primarily Aspergillus fumigatus, were observed in 22 cases. Bacterial infections, with Klebsiella pneumoniae and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as the main pathogens, were identified in 20 cases. SFTS patients with co-infection exhibited higher mortality (P=0.011) compared to non-co-infection patients. Among SFTS patients co-infected with both bacteria and fungi (8 cases) or specific drug-resistant strains (11 cases), the mortality rate was as high as 70% (14/19). In comparison with the non-co-infection group, SFTS patients with co-infection displayed significant alteration in inflammatory markers, coagulation function, and liver function indicators.

Conclusion

The mortality rate of SFTS patients with co-infection is relatively high, underscoring the need for enhanced monitoring and timely, appropriate treatment to minimize the mortality rate.