Protecting adults at risk of pneumococcal infection and influenza from exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

There is a paucity of evidence linking pneumococcal infection and influenza with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. There is circumstantial evidence of the possibility of an association between S. pneumoniae and SARS-CoV-2 such as the increased binding of S. pneumoniae to coronavirus-infected human airway epithelium, the frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in the management of COVID-19 which could mask secondary bacterial infection, and the observation that pneumococcal vaccination is associated with decreased SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab positivity. We performed a targeted literature review for the year 2020, using search terms S. pneumoniae , influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and found 25 relevant articles of a total of 291. Pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations have the potential to contribute toward efforts aimed at reducing the health burden of SARS-CoV-2, especially by reducing preventable admissions to hospital for pneumonia and the consequent risk of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

The effect of influenza vaccine in reducing the severity of clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, they reported that patients who received the influenza vaccine showed a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. On the other hand, McIntosh et al 33 stated that pneumococcal and influenza vaccination could reduce SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial transmission by reducing hospitalizations for pneumonia and COVID-19 severity. They also noted that exploring co-administration of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines with a safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is needed 33 .…”

The Assessment of Multiplex PCR in Identifying Bacterial Infections in Patients Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review

“…These results are in line with other reviews that found Streptococcus pneumoniae , S. aureus , and Klebsiella pneumoniae [ 4 , 44 ] and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae [ 7 ] to be the most prevalent co-infections. As S. pneumoniae was found to be one of the most frequent pathogens, one review states that pneumococcal vaccination could decrease the burden of the COVID-19 virus, as it can prevent hospitalization and, thus, the risk of contracting nosocomial bacteria [ 45 ]. Despite the occurrence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae [ 4 , 9 ] reported in other systematic reviews and meta-analyses, studies included in the present review did not report a prevalence of this type of bacterium.…”