Doubt about plural, and objective pronoum in context

[GuilhermeRM]

Hello, I need help to understand the grammar usage in this phrase:

''While looking around the infirmary, I observed
many other patients which happened to be
suffering from the same upper respiratory
infection as I''

1- The correct isn't ''many others'' rather than ''many other''?
2- The word ''as'' functions like a conjunction, not like a preposition, right? (I'm asking this because, if it were a preposition I think I should use ''infection as me'' rather than ''infection as I''.

Thank you

[bhaisahab]

Hello, I need help to understand the grammar usage in this phrase:

''While looking around the infirmary, I observed
many other patients which happened to be
suffering from the same upper respiratory
infection as I''

1- The correct isn't ''many others'' rather than ''many other''?
2- The word ''as'' functions like a conjunction, not like a preposition, right? (I'm asking this because, if it were a preposition I think I should use ''infection as me'' rather than ''infection as I''.

Thank you

''While looking around the infirmary, I observed
many other patients who happened to be
suffering from the same upper respiratory
infection as I.'' This is correct.

[tom3m]

While looking around the infirmary, I observed
many other patients who happened to be
suffering from the same upper respiratory
infection as I.

I cannot get how 'as' can be a conjuction here. However, if it is a conjuction as it was suggested by GuilhermeRM, what does it connect then? Wouldn't 'as me' sound more natural?

Thank you in advance