The bacterial and fungal profiles of patients hospitalized with non-COVID-19 lower respiratory tract infections in Wuhan, China, 2019–2021.

This article focuses on changes in bacterial and fungal respiratory pathogen profiles among patients hospitalized with non-COVID-19 lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in Wuhan, China, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Using 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples from 1368 patients between 2019 and 2021, the study found that Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae were the most common bacteria, while Aspergillus fumigatus and Pneumocystis jirovecii were the most common fungi. Post-pandemic data showed a significant increase in S. pneumoniae detection, especially in children, and a decrease in M. pneumoniae, with pathogen prevalence varying by patient age and hospital department. These findings highlight shifts in respiratory pathogen spectra associated with pandemic-related public health interventions and may inform clinical treatment and infection prevention strategies.