Convergence of Hypervirulence and Multidrug-Resistance in Complex Isolates from Patients with COVID-19

Overview

Journal Infect Drug Resist

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Date 2025 Jan 1

PMID 39741887

Authors

Mengjiao Du

Cheng Chi

LuYing Xiong

Jincheng Rong

Maoli Yi

Qi Zhao

Xiaohui Chi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: is a conditioned pathogen in the medical setting and mainly affects patients with cystic fibrosis. We found co-infection with complex (Bcc) in many patients with respiratory tract infections, including H7N9 and COVID-19. However, previous studies have not focused on co-infections with BCC and respiratory viruses. Therefore, this study attempted to clarify the evolution of COVID-19-Bcc and H7N9-Bcc in terms of genetic background, antibiotic resistance, and virulence phenotypes.

Methods: This study retrospectively collected 49 Bcc isolated from patients with H7N9 and COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital of Zhejiang Province, of which 42 isolates were isolated from patients with H7N9, seven isolates were isolated from patients with COVID-19. The collected isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility, infection model, and whole-genome COVID-19-Bcc Characterization.

Results: The test results of 49 strains of Bcc showed that the strains isolated from COVID-19 patients accounted for 57.1% of multidrug-resistance resistant strains. Statistical analysis of the median lethal time of showed that the median fatal time for COVID-19-Bcc was shorter and more virulent than that of H7N9-Bcc (P<0.05). The results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that COVID-19-Bcc may have evolved from H7N9-Bcc.

Conclusion: In this study, co-infection with BCC in many patients with respiratory tract infections, including H7N9 and COVID-19, was first identified and clarified that COVID-19-Bcc may have evolved from H7N9-Bcc and has the characteristics of hypervirulence and multidrug resistance.

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