During 2013-2015 in central China, co-infection with spotted fever group rickettsiae was identified in 77 of 823 patients infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus. Co-infection resulted in delayed recovery and increased risk for death, prompting clinical practices in the region to consider co-infection in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.
Keywords: China; SFGR; SFTS; SFTSV; bacteria; clinical features; co-infection; complications; epidemiologic characteristics; human infection; laboratory findings; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus; spotted fever group rickettsiae; tick bites; tick-borne pathogen; ticks; vector-borne infections; viruses; zoonoses.