Monkeypox virus in patients treated at a hospital in Quito-Ecuador during the 2022–2023 epidemic: A new sexually transmitted infection?

Introduction: Monkeypox virus (Mpox), first isolated in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it remains endemic, has since been implicated in outbreaks across multiple regions globally. Methodology: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving all patients diagnosed with Mpox via PCR confirmation who presented at Pablo Arturo Suarez Hospital between August 2022 and April 2023. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected anonymously. Results: A total of 22 patients were included in the study. The majority (90.5%) were male, and 66.7% were HIV-positive, with most patients on antiretroviral therapy and exhibiting a CD4 count > 200 cells/μL. The most common systemic symptom was fever, present in 77.3% of cases. Polymorphic cutaneous lesions were observed in 31.8% of patients. Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that Mpox disproportionately affects men who have sex with men and individuals living with HIV. The cutaneous manifestations of Mpox demonstrate substantial variability, likely influenced by the timing of clinical evaluation, while systemic symptoms remain nonspecific. Mpox is emerging as a significant sexually transmitted infection, and dermatologists play a key role in its diagnóstico, particularly when evaluating patients with dermatological lesions. It is essential to include Mpox in the differential diagnosis of such cases.