Severe monkeypox with superimposed bacterial infection in an immunocompetent patient: A case report
Aysswarya Manoharan, Beatriz X Braz, Andrew McBride, Salma Hernandez, Monica Balfour, Tanya Quiroz, Alexis Powell, Allan Rodríguez, Stephen R. Morris, Jose Armando Gonzales Zamora
Abstract
genu, has been the center of global attention since it has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization. Typically, it is a self-limiting disease; however, it can occasionally have severe presentations in patients with underlying conditions, such as HIV, malignancy, and transplantation. In this article, we will present a case of an immunocompetent patient with a severe presentation of monkeypox. The patient presented with facial pustules with superimposed bacterial infection; furthermore, he had painful vesicles in oral and nasal mucosa and the penis. Dermatologic conditions such as atopic dermatitis has been associated with severe monkeypox. While our patient does not have a history of atopic dermatitis, he does report contact dermatitis as well as a history of skin infections. Researchers have hypothesized that disruption of the skin barrier allows for proliferation of the monkeypox virus; therefore, it is important to take a thorough history of the patient's skin conditions. Lastly, we described the use of Tecovirimat in our patient. Although it is impossible to demonstrate the efficacy of this medication without a randomized clinical trial, our patient seemed to have a faster improvement of the lesions after initiating this antiviral.