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Mingyeol Shim 1 Article
Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of suspected and confirmed mpox cases during the 2022-2023 epidemic in the Capital Region, Korea
Mingyeol Shim, Soo Hyeon Cho, Seung Eun Lee, Taeyoung Kim
Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024092.   Published online November 24, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024092
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AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study investigated the general characteristics of laboratory-confirmed mpox patients in the Capital Region of Korea, as well as the risk factors for mpox infection, particularly focusing on the characteristics of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive and PCR-negative cases.
METHODS
We investigated 160 adults, excluding 4 minors, from 164 suspected mpox patients reported in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon from June 21, 2022 to October 31, 2023. Data were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews. A statistical analysis of the general characteristics of the infection was conducted using frequency analysis and logistic regression.
RESULTS
Of the 160 suspected cases of mpox, 59.3% (n=95) tested positive via mpox-PCR. Among the confirmed cases, 97.9% (n=93) were male. PCR-positive patients typically presented with genital and anal skin rashes or mucosal lesions, accompanied by pain. Additionally, 35.5% (n=33) of the male patients had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Most confirmed cases (94.7%, 90/95) were believed to have contracted mpox through sexual contact during the maximal incubation period of 21 days prior to symptom onset, with a significant number reporting same-sex or casual contact. The most commonly collected and highest-yielding specimens from PCR-positive patients were from skin or mucosal lesions, whereas blood samples demonstrated the lowest percent positivity.
CONCLUSIONS
In the Capital Region, most PCR-positive cases were male patients in their 30s who had sexual contacts and exhibited symptoms, aligning with findings from previous studies. These results provide a foundation for the differential diagnosis concerning mpox infection and the selection of PCR-test samples in clinical settings.
Summary
Korean summary
- 대한민국 수도권의 mpox 의심환자 160명 중 59.3%(n=95)가 mpox-PCR 검사에서 양성으로 확인되었다. - 확진 환자 중 97.9%(n=93)는 남성이었고 35.5%(n=33)는 HIV에 감염되었으며 엠폭스 감염의 위험요인으로는 일회성 파트너와의 성적 접촉, 항문생식기 병변, 병변 부위의 통증이 포함되었다. - 양성 환자의 검체 특성은 피부 및 점막 병변 샘플이 가장 높은 양성률을 보였고, 혈액 샘플은 가장 낮은 양성률을 보였다.
Key Message
- Of the 160 suspected mpox cases in the Capital Region of South Korea, 59.3% (n=95) were confirmed as PCR-positive. - Among the confirmed cases, 97.9% were male and 35.5% were infected with HIV, and risk factors of mpox infection included sexual contact with casual partner, anogenital lesion, and pain on lesions. - Skin and mucosal lesion samples had the highest positivity rate, while blood samples had the lowest.

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