Human monkeypox virus infection in women and non-binary individuals during the 2022 outbreaks: a global case series

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Background: Between May and November, 2022, global outbreaks of human monkeypox virus infection have been reported in more than 78 000 people worldwide, predominantly in men who have sex with men. We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of monkeypox virus infection in cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) women and non-binary individuals assigned female sex at birth to improve identification and understanding of risk factors. Methods: International collaborators in geographical locations with high numbers of diagnoses of monkeypox virus infection were approached and invited to contribute data on women and non-binary individuals with confirmed monkeypox virus infection. Contributing centres completed deidentified structured case-report spreadsheets, adapted and developed by participating clinicians, to include variables of interest relevant to women and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth. We describe the epidemiology and clinical course observed in the reported infections. Findings: Collaborators reported data for a total of 136 individuals with monkeypox virus infection who presented between May 11 and Oct 4, 2022, across 15 countries. Overall median age was 34 years (IQR 28–40; range 19–84). The cohort comprised 62 trans women, 69 cis women, and five non-binary individuals (who were, because of small numbers, grouped with cis women to form a category of people assigned female at birth for the purpose of comparison). 121 (89%) of 136 individuals reported sex with men. 37 (27%) of all individuals were living with HIV, with a higher proportion among trans women (31 [50%] of 62) than among cis women and non-binary individuals (six [8%] of 74). Sexual transmission was suspected in 55 (89%) trans women (with the remainder having an unknown route of transmission) and 45 (61%) cis women and non-binary individuals; non-sexual routes of transmission (including household and occupational exposures) were reported only in cis women and non-binary individuals. 25 (34%) of 74 cis women and non-binary individuals submitted to the case series were initially misdiagnosed. Overall, among individuals with available data, rash was described in 124 (93%) of 134 individuals and described as anogenital in 95 (74%) of 129 and as vesiculopustular in 105 (87%) of 121. Median number of lesions was ten (IQR 5-24; range 1–200). Mucosal lesions involving the vagina, anus, or oropharynx or eye occurred in 65 (55%) of 119 individuals with available data. Vaginal and anal sex were associated with lesions at those sites. Monkeypox virus DNA was detected by PCR from vaginal swab samples in all 14 samples tested. 17 (13%) individuals were hospitalised, predominantly for bacterial superinfection of lesions and pain management. 33 (24%) individuals were treated with tecovirimat and six (4%) received post-exposure vaccinations. No deaths were reported. Interpretation: The clinical features of monkeypox in women and non-binary individuals were similar to those described in men, including the presence of anal and genital lesions with prominent mucosal involvement. Anatomically, anogenital lesions were reflective of sexual practices: vulvovaginal lesions predominated in cis women and non-binary individuals and anorectal features predominated in trans women. The prevalence of HIV co-infection in the cohort was high. Funding: None.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftThe Lancet
Vol/bind400
Udgave nummer10367
Sider (fra-til)1953-1965
Antal sider13
ISSN0140-6736
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
We thank all the women and non-binary individuals with monkeypox infection who agreed to allow their medical team to share their data with their permission; the medical staff who looked after the participants and all of the listed contributors for their efforts in collecting the data; Sebastian Noe for creating figure 1 the world map; Sophie Strachan from the Sophia Forum, a community organisation serving women concerned about HIV and sexual health, for providing a community perspective on the case series; the clinicians who did not have cases to submit who nonetheless enthusiastically supported the collaboration and signposted us to colleagues caring for women and non-binary individuals with monkeypox virus, most notably Cristina Mussini (Italy), Alexandra Calmy (Switzerland), Jean-Michel Molina (France), Itsik Levy (Israel), Juergen Rockstroh, Christoph Boesecke and Christoph Spinner (Germany), Omar Sued and Laila Woc-Colburn (for Latin America), Jan Gerstoft (Denmark), Magnus Gisslen (Sweden), Sanjay Bhagani (UK), Monica Gandhi, Tara Palmore, and Daniel Kuritzkes (USA); and Sanjay Bhagani for suggesting the case series. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine; National Institutes of Health; Department of Health and Human Services; Defense Health Agency; Departments of the Air Force, Navy, or Army; Department of Defense; or US Government.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license

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