1. Mpox across countries from Central and Eastern Europe - 2022 outbreak.
- Author
-
Ianache, Irina, Skrzat-Klapaczynska, Agata, Jilich, David, Fleischhans, Lukas, Gmizic, Ivana, Ranin, Jovan, Papadopoulos, Antonios, Protopapas, Konstantinos, Mulabdic, Velida, Lakatos, Botond, Nagy, Eva Livia, Begovac, Josip, Holban, Tiberiu, Sevgi, Dilek Yildiz, Cicic, Alma, Yancheva, Nina, Sojak, Lubomir, Rukhadze, Nino, Kowalska, Justyna, and Oprea, Cristiana
- Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess socio-demographical characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcomes in patients diagnosed with mpox. A survey on patients diagnosed with mpox was performed in 14 countries from Central and Eastern Europe. Data was compared according to HIV status and country of origin (EU vs. non-EU). Mpox diagnosis was confirmed by RT-PCR from oropharyngeal swabs, skin lesions, and other body fluids. Out of 154 patients confirmed with mpox in 2022, 99.3% were males, with a median age (years) of 35 (IQR 30–39), 90.2% MSM and 48.7% PLWH. Compared to HIV-negative subjects, PLWH had more frequent high-risk behaviours:chemsex (p = 0.015), group sex (p = 0.027), and a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (p = 0.004). Persons from EU were more often PLWH (p = 0.042), MSM (p < 0.0001), had multiple sexual partners (p = 0.025), practiced chemsex (p = 0.008) or group-sex (p = 0.005) and had more often history of STIs (p < 0.0001). The median CD4 cell count/mL at mpox diagnosis was 713 (IQR 486–996) and 73.5% had undetectable HIV VL. The commonest clinical features were fever (108 cases), lymphadenopathy (78), and vesiculo-pustular rash: penile (76), perianal (48), limbs (67). Fifty-one (31%) persons were hospitalized due to complications or epidemiological reasons. Three patients received tecovirimat or cidofovir. The outcome was favorable for all patients, including 4 with severe forms. Mpox was diagnosed predominantly in young MSM, with high-risk behaviors and history of STIs. Effective contact tracing and vaccination are important strategic pillars to control mpox outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF