FRIDAY, August 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Evidence-based clinical management guidelines for monkeypox (MPX) are lacking, according to a review published online Aug. 16. BMJ Global Health,
Eka Webb, MBBS, from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and identified MPX guidelines providing treatment and supportive care recommendations. A total of 14 guidelines were included, out of which 2,026 records were screened.
The researchers found that most of the guidelines were of low quality (average score, 2 out of 7), lacked details, and covered only a narrow range of subjects. Most of the guidelines are focused on adults; Five, three and three provided some advice for children, pregnant women, and people living with HIV, respectively. Treatment guidance was mainly limited to antiviral advice; Cidofovir was advised in seven guidelines (four only for severe MPX), while four and one guidelines advised tecovirimat and brincidofovir, respectively. Only one guideline provided recommendations on supportive care and treatment of complications. All guidelines recommended vaccination as a form of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). Vaccinia immune globulin was recommended in three guidelines as a PEP for severe cases in people with immunosuppression.
“There is an urgent need for investment in research to identify optimal treatment and prophylaxis strategies for the entire population, in any setting, to benefit patient care and outcomes,” the authors write.
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