Sexually transmitted infections and clinical features in monkeypox (mpox) patients in Madrid, Spain

Since the beginning of the monkeypox (mpox) virus outbreak in May 2022, there has been an increase in the number of cases worldwide in the setting of sexual transmission. We have tested by real-time PCR 187 mpox patients, of which 157 patients were screened for sexually transmitted infections (STI) in 245 samples. Thirty-six pathogens were detected in 30 patients: herpes simplex virus (HSV-I/II, 12/36, 33.3%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG, 9/36, 25%), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT, 5/36, 13.8%), Chlamydia trachomatis-lymphogranuloma venereum (CT-LGV, 3/36, 8.3%), Treponema pallidum (TP, 4/36, 11.1%) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG, 3/36, 8.3%). Screening of STI is recommended in mpox patients for the differential diagnosis of the main infections of sexual tract especially in patients with rectal involvement.

Automated summary

Since May 2022, there has been a global increase in monkeypox virus cases transmitted through sexual contact. Real-time PCR testing of 187 monkeypox patients revealed 36 pathogens in 30 patients, including herpes simplex virus (33.3%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (25%), Chlamydia trachomatis (13.8%), Chlamydia trachomatis-lymphogranuloma venereum (8.3%), Treponema pallidum (11.1%), and Mycoplasma genitalium (8.3%). Screening for sexually transmitted infections is recommended for monkeypox patients, particularly those with rectal involvement.