Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Microbial Composition of Upper Airway

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients

Characteristic	Total (n = 44)	Severe/Critical (n = 8)	Non-Severe (n = 36)	p value
Age, years	54(3–77)	62.5(54–77)	44(3–71)	0.008*
Gender Male	21(47.7)	5(62.5)	16(44.4)	0.35
Female	23(52.3)	3(37.5)	20(45.6)
Signs and symptoms
Fever	29(65.9)	7(87.5)	22(61.1)	0.15
Cough	18(40.9)	3(37.5)	15(41.7)	0.83
Fatigue	5(11.4)	3(37.5)	2(5.5)	0.01*
Nasal discharge	2(4.5)	0(0)	2(5.5)	0.49
Pain (headache/sore throat/muscle aches, etc)	9(20.4)	2(25)	7(19.4)	0.72
T, °C	37.0(36.5–37.8)	37.7(37.3–38.0)	36.8(36.5–37.7)	0.04*
Underlying diseases(N/Y)	16(36.4)	5(62.5)	11(30.5)	0.09
Circulatory diseases (hypertension, coronary heart disease)	7(15.9)	2(25)	5(13.9)	0.44
Respiratory basic diseases (chronic bronchitis, lung cancer)	3(6.8)	2(25)	1(2.8)	0.02*
Endocrine system basic diseases (diabetes)	3(6.8)	2(25)	1(2.8)	0.02*
Other systemic diseases (fractures, cerebral infarction, etc.)	5(11.4)	1(12.5)	4(11.1)	0.91
Laboratory findings
White blood cell count, ×109/L	4.61(3.67–6.48)	3.52(3.14–4.59)	4.82(3.83–6.56)	0.04*
Lymphocyte count, ×109/L	1.60 (1.08–2.13)	0.85(0.45–1.46)	1.76(1.36–2.46)	0.001*
Neutrophil count, ×109/L	2.30(1.79–3.47)	2.08(1.30–3.34)	2.36(1.88–3.61)	0.38
Monocyte count, ×109/L	0.47(0.37–0.66)	0.34(0.26–0.52)	0.49(0.40–0.71)	0.06
NLR	1.78(0.4–9.38)	2.16(0.74–9.38)	1.70 (0.40–5.68)	0.025*
PCT	2(4.5)	1(12.8)	1(2.8)	0.23
CRP, mg/L	2.45(0.56–7.62)	22.0(8.68–42.5)	1.15(0.48–5.06)	0.001*
CD3(+) T lymphocytes,/ul	1057(742.8–1561)	565 (226.0–794.5)	1162(891.3–1734)	0.001*
CD3(+)CD4(+) T lymphocytes,/ul	579(408.3–831.5)	325(174.5–483.8)	631.5(449.8–842.5)	0.006*
CD3(+)CD8(+) T lymphocytes,/ul	355(263.8–514.5)	159(64.5–281.8)	457.5(318.8–553.0)	0.0002*
PaO2, mmHg	99.9(86.6–105.0)	91.1(75.7–101.2)	101.0(89.1–105.3)	0.12
CT imaging features
One or both lungs	2(0–2)	2(1–2)	1(0–2)	0.02*
Number of lung lobes (0–5)	2next (0–5)	5(1–5)	1(0–5)	0.001*
Ground glass lesions	29(65.9%)	7(87.5%)	22(61.1%)	0.15
Consolidation	7(15.9%)	3(37.5%)	4(11.1%)	0.06
Bronchial abnormalities	4(9.1%)	2(25%)	2(5.5%)	0.08
Mediastinal lymph node enlargement	1(2.3%)	1(12.5%)	0(0)	0.04*
Pleural effusion	1(2.3%)	1(12.5%)	0(0)	0.04*

Note: *P<0.05.

Abbreviations: T, temperature; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; PCT, procalcitonin; CRP, C-reactive protein; PaO2, arterial partial pressure of oxygen.

Figure 1 The microbial composition of upper airway in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Notes: The percentage of cases with different kinds of bacteria (A), virus (B), fungus and atypical pathogens (C) detected by next generation sequencing of nasopharyngeal test paper was shown in this figure. *P<0.05, there was significant difference between severe and non-severe groups.