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

Methods Forty-four COVID-19 patients (severe/critical: N = 8, non-severe: N = 36) were examined by next generation sequencing (NGS) of nasopharyngeal test paper to observe the effect of novel coronavirus infection to the microbial composition in upper airway. Results In these nasopharyngeal test paper samples, 38 kinds of bacteria, 10 kinds of viruses except SARS-CoV-2, nine kinds of fungi and three kinds of atypical pathogens had been found. There was some difference in microbial composition in the upper airway between severe and non-severe cases. Summary These results are important for us to study the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the local microbial composition of upper airway and prevent opportunistic infection in severe patients.