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Review
. 2015 Aug 24:11:1265-71.
doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S87789. eCollection 2015.

Virus-induced secondary bacterial infection: a concise review

Mohamed A Hendaus  1 , Fatima A Jomha  2 , Ahmed H Alhammadi  1
Affiliations
Review

Virus-induced secondary bacterial infection: a concise review

Mohamed A Hendaus et al. Ther Clin Risk Manag. .

Abstract

Respiratory diseases are a very common source of morbidity and mortality among children. Health care providers often face a dilemma when encountering a febrile infant or child with respiratory tract infection. The reason expressed by many clinicians is the trouble to confirm whether the fever is caused by a virus or a bacterium. The aim of this review is to update the current evidence on the virus-induced bacterial infection. We present several clinical as well in vitro studies that support the correlation between virus and secondary bacterial infections. In addition, we discuss the pathophysiology and prevention modes of the virus-bacterium coexistence. A search of the PubMed and MEDLINE databases was carried out for published articles covering bacterial infections associated with respiratory viruses. This review should provide clinicians with a comprehensive idea of the range of bacterial and viral coinfections or secondary infections that could present with viral respiratory illness.

Keywords: bacteria; infection; risk; virus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram showing the selection of literature.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Airway epithelium. Abbreviations: INF, interferon; TJ, tight junction; TLR, Toll-like receptor; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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