Detecting mpox infection in the early epidemic: an epidemiologic investigation of the third and fourth cases in Korea

• 영문명: Detecting mpox infection in the early epidemic: an epidemiologic investigation of the third and fourth cases in Korea
• 발행기관: 한국역학회
• 저자명: Taeyoung Kim Eonjoo Park Jun Suk Eun Eun-young Lee Ji Won Mun Yunsang Choi Shinyoung Lee Hansol Yeom
• 간행물 정보: 『Epidemiology and Health』45, 1~7쪽, 전체 7쪽
• 주제분류: 의약학 > 면역학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2023.01.01

영문 초록

OBJECTIVES: As few mpox cases have been reported in Korea, we aimed to identify the characteristics of mpox infection by describing our epidemiologic investigation of a woman patient (index patient, the third case in Korea) and a physician who was infected by a needlestick injury (the fourth case). METHODS: We conducted contact tracing and exposure risk evaluation through interviews with these 2 patients and their physicians and contacts, as well as field investigations at each facility visited by the patients during their symptomatic periods. We then classified contacts into 3 levels according to their exposure risk and managed them to minimize further transmission by recommending quarantine and vaccination for post-exposure prophylaxis and monitoring their symptoms. RESULTS: The index patient had sexual contact with a man foreigner during a trip to Dubai, which was considered the probable route of transmission. In total, 27 healthcare-associated contacts across 7 healthcare facilities and 9 community contacts were identified. These contacts were classified into high (7 contacts), medium (9 contacts), and low (20 contacts) exposure risk groups. One high-risk contact was identified as a secondary patient: a physician who was injured while collecting specimens from the index patient. CONCLUSIONS: The index patient visited several medical facilities due to progressive symptoms prior to isolation. Although the 2022 mpox epidemic mainly affected young men, especially men who have sex with men, physicians should also consider mpox transmission in the general population for the timely detection of mpox-infected patients.

목차

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

FUNDING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

ORCID

REFERENCES

키워드

Monkeypox Contact tracing Needlestick injuries