coinfection
noun
co·in·fec·tion
kō-in-ˈfek-shən 
variants
or co-infection
plural coinfections or co-infections
: concurrent infection of a cell or organism with two or more pathogenic agents
coinfection with influenza A and SARS-CoV-2
coinfect
transitive verb
or co-infect
coinfected or co-infected; coinfecting or co-infecting; coinfects or co-infects
Some experts suspect that superspreaders might have a more virulent strain of coronavirus or be co-infected with other microbes.
—
Aparisim Ghosh
Aparisim Ghosh
Examples of coinfection in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
How big of a risk is coinfection with Covid and other viruses?
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 1 Mar. 2024
Last year, the CDC tracked coinfections in the U.S. and found that 3% of people hospitalized with the flu also tested positive for Covid.
—Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 6 Jan. 2024
And only 10% of patients were estimated to have a bacterial coinfection.
—Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 17 Jan. 2024
During the coinfection, the two segmented influenza viruses could exchange bits of genetic code and combine to create a chimeric virus.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 11 Feb. 2023
Another study of patients hospitalized with viral or bacterial infections found that nearly half had a coinfection with another pathogen.
—Hayley Muendlein, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022
Scientists there decided to start hunting for examples of coinfection and possible recombination earlier this year.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2022
Two cases of coinfection have already been reported in another study currently under review, the study's authors stated.
—Erin Prater, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2022
Bay Area scientists agreed that recombination due to delta and omicron coinfection isn’t surprising.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2022
Erika Edwards, NBC News, 1 Mar. 2024
Last year, the CDC tracked coinfections in the U.S. and found that 3% of people hospitalized with the flu also tested positive for Covid.
—Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 6 Jan. 2024
And only 10% of patients were estimated to have a bacterial coinfection.
—Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 17 Jan. 2024
During the coinfection, the two segmented influenza viruses could exchange bits of genetic code and combine to create a chimeric virus.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 11 Feb. 2023
Another study of patients hospitalized with viral or bacterial infections found that nearly half had a coinfection with another pathogen.
—Hayley Muendlein, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022
Scientists there decided to start hunting for examples of coinfection and possible recombination earlier this year.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2022
Two cases of coinfection have already been reported in another study currently under review, the study's authors stated.
—Erin Prater, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2022
Bay Area scientists agreed that recombination due to delta and omicron coinfection isn’t surprising.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coinfection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1872, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near coinfection
Cite this Entry
“Coinfection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coinfection. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
coinfection
noun
co·in·fec·tion
variants
or co-infection
: concurrent infection of a cell or organism with two or more pathogenic agents
pneumonia caused by coinfection with an orthomyxovirus and a streptococcus
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share