Pestel Julia, Matthews Hanna, Schmiedel Stefan, Hüfner Anja, Jordan Sabine, Scheiter Robin Luca, Lütgehetmann Marc, Nörz Dominik, Degen Olaf
Infectious Disease Clinic, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Infect Dis Rep. 2022 Oct 17;14(5):794-797. doi: 10.3390/idr14050081.
Since the outbreak of monkeypox in formerly non-endemic countries, we have included a screening for monkeypox in our sexually transmitted diseases (STD) routine in patients with high-risk behavior, as it is mainly transmitted through close skin to mucous membrane contact with infected individuals. Between 16 June 2022 and 14 July 2022, we screened 53 MSM with high-risk behavior for monkeypox acquisition in an observational prospective cohort trial. We complemented the throat and anal swabs for chlamydia and gonococci with monkeypox using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, all patients participated in a questionnaire survey about their risk behavior and previous STD in their medical history. None of the 53 participants had tested positive for the monkeypox virus. One patient was diagnosed with syphilis and one with an oral and anorectal chlamydia infection. STD screening in high-risk populations is a valuable tool to detect asymptomatic patients for chlamydia, gonococci, HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis. Based on our small cohort, monkeypox screening in asymptomatic MSM patients in areas of low prevalence does not seem to be an appropriate approach to deal with the ongoing outbreak. Therefore, we recommend to focus more on vaccinations, targeted nonstigmatizing information and behavior recommendation for risk populations, and to engage further investigations.
自从猴痘在以前的非流行国家爆发以来，我们在有高危行为的患者的性传播疾病（STD）常规检查中增加了猴痘筛查，因为它主要通过与受感染个体的皮肤与黏膜密切接触传播。在2022年6月16日至2022年7月14日期间，我们在一项观察性前瞻性队列试验中对53名有高危行为的男男性行为者（MSM）进行了猴痘感染筛查。我们使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）对猴痘补充了咽喉和肛门拭子以检测衣原体和淋病奈瑟菌。此外，所有患者都参与了一项关于他们的风险行为和既往病史中STD情况的问卷调查。53名参与者中没有一人猴痘病毒检测呈阳性。一名患者被诊断为梅毒，一名患者被诊断为口腔和肛门衣原体感染。对高危人群进行STD筛查是检测衣原体、淋病奈瑟菌、HIV、乙型和丙型肝炎以及梅毒无症状患者的宝贵工具。基于我们的小队列研究，在低流行地区对无症状MSM患者进行猴痘筛查似乎不是应对当前疫情的合适方法。因此，我们建议更多地关注疫苗接种、为风险人群提供有针对性的非污名化信息和行为建议，并开展进一步调查。
