Researchers in France and Spain reported that several men who had sex with men in at least three countries were diagnosed with dermatomycosis, a skin disease that usually affects livestock. STAT News.
The cluster of infections is reminiscent of the early stages of the 2022 mpox epidemic, when the disease spread through networks of men who have sex with men.
Dermatitis is caused by a bacterium called Dermatitis congolensis. Also known as “rain rot,” “rain fever,” “clump wool disease,” and streptococcus, this infection usually affects cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, primarily in tropical and subtropical climates.
Although there are rare cases where this bacterium affects humans, infections commonly occur among people who have direct contact with infected animals, such as farmers, hunters, veterinarians, and riders. The disease, which is usually mild but can be severe in some cases, manifests as a rash consisting of pimples, pustules, or crusted lesions that do not itch.
Lesions usually occur on areas of the body that are chronically moist or prone to cuts and scrapes, such as the back, face, ears, and legs. Wet skin and open cuts and scrapes are especially susceptible to infection. Until now, there has been no record of human-to-human transmission.
Article published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emerging infectious diseases magazines, doctors reported Two major clusters of dermatitis infections occurred in Barcelona, Spain and Lyon, France.
The Lyon cluster involved nine people, one of whom reported having multiple sexual partners at a sauna in Paris. Genetic sequencing of bacterial samples taken from eight cases revealed similarities, suggesting the bacteria could be transmitted through human sexual contact.
Since publication of this article, the number of cases in the Lyon cluster has increased to 25, with cases also reported in Paris, Bordeaux, Saint-Étienne and Annecy. One of the men had recently traveled to Turkey and the other to Italy, where they had sexual relations despite not having symptoms at the time.
Matthew DeGlaise, lead author of the study on the Lyon cluster and a junior scientist at Lyon University Hospital, told STAT News that the two men who traveled abroad may have become infected during their travels.
Since the publication of the article about the Barcelona cluster, only one new case has been confirmed. However, Vicente Descalso, lead author of the paper on the Spanish cluster and an internal medicine specialist in the STI/HIV department at Barcelona’s Drassanes Hospital Val d’Hebron, told STAT News that other doctors in the Barcelona area have also reported one or two cases. Additionally, after the CDC article was published, a doctor in Berlin contacted me about a similar case there.
It remains unclear whether the bacteria responsible for both clusters share similar genetic sequences.
In both clusters, pimples and pustules appeared primarily on body parts exposed during sexual contact, but it remains unclear whether asymptomatic people can transmit the disease through human contact.
Furthermore, none of the infected people were immunocompromised. All cases were relatively mild and either resolved spontaneously or were successfully treated with antibiotics. This bacterium appears to be sensitive to multiple antibiotics.
None of the infected men reported contact with infected animals. However, nearly everyone reported going to a sauna before developing symptoms, leading some researchers to believe that saunas may play a role in the infection. Dermatophilus congolensis is known to spread more efficiently in humid environments.
DeCalzo believes the condition may be underdiagnosed, but said most doctors will likely prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the infection and reduce the risk of infection, provided the infected person refrains from sexual contact until the rash subsides.
Dermatophytosis is similar to a relatively benign folliculitis, a condition in which hair follicles become inflamed and small pimples form, said Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the CDC’s HIV prevention division and now chief medical officer of the Cullen Lord Community Health Center in New York City.
Daskalakis noted that there are concerns about how dermatitis manifests in immunocompromised people, such as people with HIV.
The World Health Organization told STAT News that while it is aware of cases in Europe, it currently believes the risk of dermatitis infections rising to epidemic levels is low. However, authorities said the case highlights the importance of making sexual health clinicians aware of emerging infections and ensuring appropriate testing to determine the cause of unexplained skin lesions.
Daskalakis said owners of saunas frequented by men who have sex with men, along with their patrons, should practice good hygiene to reduce the chance of infection.
“It’s a good time for these saunas to make sure they get a deep clean,” he said. “But I think this also speaks to the men who are attending these venues. You can try to say, ‘Don’t attend these venues,’ but that doesn’t work. We know that historically. I think that’s the way it is.” [about] We make sure that they are doing all the necessary things to maintain good hygiene, and that they always take a shower after each encounter. ”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
