Hospitalisation for monkeypox in Milan, Italy

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The 2022 multi-country outbreak of human monkeypox (MPX) presented unique clinical challenges.
• Understanding hospitalization patterns and treatment outcomes is crucial for managing outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the hospitalization rate and clinical characteristics of human monkeypox cases in Milan, Italy.
• To identify primary reasons for hospitalization and evaluate treatment outcomes during the outbreak.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of hospitalized human monkeypox patients in Milan, Italy.
• Data collection on demographics, clinical presentation, reasons for admission, treatments administered, and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• The hospitalization rate in Milan was 8.8% during the study period.
• Bacterial superinfection and severe perianal pain were the leading causes for hospitalization.
• Antibiotic and analgesic therapies were commonly required; one patient received Cidofovir.
• All hospitalized patients achieved full recovery with favorable outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Human monkeypox can necessitate hospitalization, particularly due to complications like superinfections and severe pain.
• Prompt medical intervention, including antibiotics, analgesics, and potentially antivirals like Cidofovir, leads to favorable outcomes.
• Effective management strategies are vital for controlling MPX outbreaks and ensuring patient recovery.