LUMC researchers Geert Groeneveld and Maaike Zwets. (Photo: LUMC).
Leiden, March 28, 2022, 2:05 pm by the editors
In a joint study, researchers from Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and the University of Edinburgh have discovered that an infection with the flu virus on top of a coronavirus infection can worsen the situation for the patient. Their results recently appeared in The Lancet.
“In the past two years, we regularly saw patients with COVID-19 become seriously ill, sometimes resulting in IC admission and ventilation,” says Maaike Swets, PhD candidate at the Department of Infectious Diseases at the LUMC and the University of Edinburgh. It was already known that an infection with influenza, the virus that causes flu, could lead to a similar situation. But less was known about the consequences of a double infection with SARS-CoV-2 and flu or other respiratory viruses.
The results of Swets’ research show that patients who were also infected with the influenza virus in addition to a corona infection, were in a significantly worse condition than patients who were only infected with the corona virus. For example, they needed ventilation in the ICU earlier and they had a greater chance of dying. “This could have major implications for the patient, for hospitals and ICU capacity during seasons when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza circulate together, and potentially for vaccination strategies,” says Swets.
International cooperation
According to Swets, the collaboration between the LUMC and the University of Edinburgh has been of great importance in laying the foundations for our discoveries. The PhD student and her colleagues used the ISARIC4C database as their primary source of information. “This database is comprehensive and contains information from more than 300,000 patients admitted with COVID-19 at 300 hospitals in the UK.”
Combination Infection
While it is relatively uncommon for people to become infected with several pathogens at the same time, the number of people with more than one infection is expected to increase. Especially during periods when different viruses are in circulation. Swets explains: “This was perhaps less during the corona pandemic due to the one and a half meter policy, self-isolation and mouth masks. If there are no more corona measures and we enter the flu season, this could lead to an increase in double infections. It is therefore important that the consequences of this are known so that we can respond to clinical needs.” In addition, this study emphasizes the importance of testing for both viruses in the hospital, according to Swets.
Essential Prevention
Lead researcher of the LUMC, Geert Groeneveld, also emphasizes the importance of prevention. “Protection against the coronavirus and the flu virus is especially important for vulnerable people. The combined protection for this vulnerable group should be optimized by, for example, adjusting the national vaccination campaign accordingly.”
Leiden Society