Introduction: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has spread all over the world causing a global pandemic and representing a great medical challenge. Nowadays, there is limited knowledge on the rate of co-infections with other respiratory pathogens, with viral co-infection being the most representative agents. Co-infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been described both in adults and pediatrics whereas only two cases of Chlamydia pneumoniae have been reported in a large US study so far.
Methods: In the present report, we describe a series of seven patients where co-infection with C. pneumoniae (n = 5) or M. pneumoniae (n = 2) and SARS-CoV-2 was detected in a large teaching hospital in Rome.
Results and conclusion: An extensive review of the updated literature regarding the co-infection between SARS-CoV-2 and these atypical pathogens is also performed.
Keywords: COVID-19; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Co-infection; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; SARS-CoV-2 infection.