Ninety-five percent of apparent superinfection cases have occurred during the first three years of infection. Studies have found evidence of superinfection in 2 to 5% of persons in the first year of infection. Intermittent treatment in acute or recent HIV infection may prolong superinfection susceptibility.

When does superinfection occur?

Superinfection is the process by which a cell that has previously been infected by one virus gets co-infected with a different strain of the virus, or another virus, at a later point in time. Viral superinfections may be resistant to the antiviral drug or drugs that were being used to treat the original infection.

Where does superinfection occur?

Bacterial superinfection is a serious complication of pancreatitis and is more likely to occur in the setting of necrosis of pancreatic tissue and more commonly later in the clinical course.