A cross-sectional study published in Cell Reports revealed that the inflammatory response elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked with a greater abundance of bacterial pathogens in the nose that might contribute to the elevated occurrence of secondary bacterial infections. Nicholas S Rhoades et al. undertook this study to examine the association between acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, nasal microbiome, and local host transcriptional response.

Nasal swabs were gathered from 68 coronavirus positive patients (CoV⁺), 45 coronavirus negative medical care workers, and 21 coronavirus negative patients (CoV^-). The nasal microbiome of CoV⁺ people at the time of diagnosis was found to be unique in comparison with CoV^- outpatients and CoV^- medical carecare workers (n = 45). This distinct shift is characterized by a raised abundance of bacterial pathogens that is also positively related to SARS-CoV-2 RNA load.

Furthermore, a strong host transcriptional response was noted in the nasal epithelia of CoV⁺ people, suggestive of an antiviral innate immune response and neuronal impairment.