Publications by authors named "P Velikov"
Background: Mixed infections can worsen disease symptoms. This study investigated the impact of mixed infections with viral and bacterial pathogens in patients positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Methods: Using the in-house multiplex PCR method, we tested 337 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples for co-infections with three bacterial and 14 other viral pathogens.
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has saved millions of lives in the past few years. To maintain a high level of protection, particularly in at-risk populations, booster doses are recommended to counter the waning of circulating antibody levels over time and the continuous emergence of immune escape variants of concern (VOCs). As anti-spike serology is now widely available, it may be considered a useful tool to identify individuals needing an additional vaccine dose, i.
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- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of respiratory infections, and a study in Bulgaria aimed to assess its prevalence and genetic diversity alongside other viruses from 2020 to 2023.
- Out of 3,047 patients with respiratory issues, 59.5% tested positive for viral pathogens, with RSV being the second most common at 10.9%, especially affecting children under 5 years old.
- The research found a marked increase in RSV cases in the 2022-2023 season, with specific genetic strains identified, indicating a resurgence post-COVID-19 restrictions.
Introduction: Endemic human coronaviruses (eHCoVs) are found worldwide and usually result in mild to moderate upper respiratory tract infections. They can lead to more severe illnesses such as croup, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia in vulnerable populations. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, information on HCoV prevalence and incidence and clinical impact of co-infections of HCoV with SARS-CoV-2 was lacking.
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