Potential for severe Staph infection during and/or after recovering from Influenza

Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as “Staph” including, now widespread variety known as MRSA (drug-resistant Staph) can lead to serious pneumonia with invasion and spread via blood flow to almost all body parts. Secondary bacterial pneumonia after a serious respiratory viral infection is a well-known fact.

 

In a recent study, Reddinger et al have demonstrated a possible mechanism for this increased risk of developing Staph infection while infected with influenza virus in mice.

Influenza created an environment (milieu) for Staph to easily penetrate from the lining of respiratory tract (colonization) resulting in the invasion of lung tissue.

During influenza infection, hosts’ response to the viral infection resulted in fever (high core temperature), local release of norepinephrine, APT (the energy currency at the cellular level) and higher glucose concentration along and below the lining of respiratory tract. These factors significantly facilitated Staph’s ability to gain access of the deeper tissues including lungs, resulting in severe pneumonia.

 

Please take note,

Influenza is a vaccine preventable illness.

Getting a flu shot not only protects against developing serious influenza infection, it may also lend protection against subsequent or concommitent bacterial pneumonia, especially Staph pneumonia that is, in most cases a devastating illness.

 

Reddinger RM, Luke-Marshall NR, Hakansson AP, Campagnari AA. Host Physiologic Changes Induced by Influenza A Virus Lead to Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Dispersion and Transition from Asymptomatic Colonization to Invasive Disease. MBio. 2016 Aug 9;7(4). pii: e01235-16. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01235-16. PubMed PMID: 27507829; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4981728.