Superinfection

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Superinfection

What it is
A superinfection is a second infection that happens on top of an existing one. It’s often caused by a different germ and can be harder to treat because the medicine used for the first infection may not work on the new one.

Bacteria
- After broad-spectrum antibiotics, helpful gut bacteria can be killed, allowing dangerous bacteria like Clostridioides difficile to overgrow.
- In people with weak immune systems, the lungs or blood can be infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Viruses
- A cell already infected by one virus can later be infected by a different virus or another strain.
- The second infection may resist the antiviral drugs used for the first infection and may be harder for the immune system to fight.
- Examples: Binjari virus may affect Zika virus infection in mosquito cells; SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) can occur with other pathogens such as rhinovirus and Moraxella in some patients.