• Aleksandra Raczyńska, Martyna Lara, Anna Kalinowska-Nowak, Paweł Skwara, Aleksander Garlicki, and Monika Bociąga-Jasik.
• Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. 2024 Oct 1.

IntroductionMpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the mpox virus (MPXV). Sporadic cases reported before 2022 were almost universally linked to direct contact with animals or travel to endemic regions in Africa. However, in 2022, a significant shift occurred with human-to-human transmission, leading to a global outbreak in 117 countries. In Poland, 217 cases of mpox were reported.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical presentations, laboratory findings, and co-infections with sexually transmitted pathogens among patients with mpox.Patients And MethodsA retrospective analysis of all mpox cases diagnosed at the University Hospital in Kraków between June 2022 and November 2022 was performed.ResultsForty-five patients aged 19-48 years (median age 34) were diagnosed with mpox. Most of them were male 44 (98%) and 42 (93%) identified themselves as men who have sex with men (MSM). Twenty-two (49%) of the patients had previously been diagnosed with HIV. During mpox diagnosis, new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were identified. Specifically, 4 patients (9%) were newly diagnosed with HIV, 5 with syphilis, 4 with Chlamydia trachomatis, 3 with Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, and 2 with Ureaplasma urealyticum infection; among this group, 4 patients (33%) had more than one sexually transmitted co-infection.ConclusionsThe mpox outbreak in Kraków in 2022 primarily affected MSM and was transmitted through sexual contact. Healthcare professionals should be aware of emerging STIs. Educational initiatives should emphasize the importance of vaccinations, safe sexual practices and regular testing.

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