Emerging infectious diseases of the skin: a review of clinical and histologic findings.

Emerging infectious diseases are of great importance to public health and clinical practice. This review aims to characterize the clinical and histopathologic features of emerging infectious diseases with cutaneous manifestations in order to increase awareness of these entities among dermatologists, pathologists, and dermatopathologists.

A dermatologic assessment of 101 mpox (monkeypox) cases from 13 countries during the 2022 outbreak: Skin lesion morphology, clinical course, and scarring.

BACKGROUND: In the 2022 mpox (monkeypox) outbreak, 79,000 global cases have been reported. Yet, limited dermatologic data have been published regarding lesion morphology and progression. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize skin lesion morphology, symptomatology, and outcomes of mpox infection over time. METHODS: The American Academy of Dermatology/International League of Dermatological Societies Dermatology COVID-19, Mpox, and Emerging Infections Registry captured deidentified patient cases of mpox entered by health care professionals. RESULTS: From August 4 to November 13, 2022, 101 cases from 13 countries were entered, primarily by dermatologists (92%). Thirty-nine percent had fewer than 5 lesions. In 54% of cases, skin lesions were the first sign of infection. In the first 1-5 days of infection, papules (36%), vesicles (17%), and pustules (20%) predominated. By days 6-10, pustules (36%) were most common, followed by erosions/ulcers (27%) and crusts/scabs (24%). Crusts/scabs were the predominant morphology after day 11. Ten cases of morbilliform rash were reported. Scarring occurred in 13% of the cases. LIMITATIONS: Registry-reported data cannot address incidence. There is a potential reporting bias from the predilection to report cases with greater clinical severity. DISCUSSION: These findings highlight differences in skin findings compared to historical outbreaks, notably the presence of skin lesions prior to systemic symptoms and low overall lesion counts. Scarring emerged as a major possible sequela.

The American Academy of Dermatology and International League of Dermatological Societies Monkeypox Registry: Expanding the COVID-19 registry to emerging infections.

The World Health Organization declared the global monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022. In response, the American Academy of Dermatology and International League of Dermatological Societies expanded the existing COVID-19 Dermatology Registry to become the "AAD/ILDS Dermatology COVID-19, Monkeypox, and Emerging Infections Registry." The goal of the registry is to rapidly collate cases of monkeypox and other emerging infections and enable prompt dissemination of findings to front-line healthcare workers and other members of the medical community. The registry is now accepting reports of monkeypox cases and cutaneous reactions to monkeypox/smallpox vaccines. The success of this collaborative effort will depend on active case entry by the global dermatology community.

Barriers and facilitators to chemotherapy initiation and adherence for patients with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in Kenya: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi sarcoma is one of the most prevalent HIV-associated malignancies in sub-Saharan Africa and is often diagnosed at advanced stage of disease. Only 50% of KS patients who qualify for chemotherapy receive it and adherence is sub-optimal. METHODS: 57 patients > 18 years with newly diagnosed KS within the AMPATH clinic network in Western Kenya were purposively selected to participate in semi-structured interviews stratified by whether they had completed, partially completed, or not completed chemotherapy for advanced stage KS. We based the interview guide and coding framework on the situated Information, Motivation, Behavioral Skills (sIMB) framework, in which the core patient centered IMB constructs are situated into the socioecological context of receiving care. RESULTS: Of the 57 participants, the median age was 37 (IQR 32-41) and the majority were male (68%). Notable barriers to chemotherapy initiation and adherence included lack of financial means, difficulty with convenience of appointments such as distance to facility, appointment times, long lines, limited appointments, intrapersonal barriers such as fear or hopelessness, and lack of proper or sufficient information about chemotherapy. Factors that facilitated chemotherapy initiation and adherence included health literacy, motivation to treat symptoms, improvement on chemotherapy, prioritization of self-care, resilience while experiencing side effects, ability to carry out behavioral skills, obtaining national health insurance, and free chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Our findings about the barriers and facilitators to chemotherapy initiation and adherence for KS in Western Kenya support further work that promotes public health campaigns with reliable cancer and chemotherapy information, improves education about the chemotherapy process and side effects, increases oncology service ability, supports enrollment in national health insurance, and increases incorporation of chronic disease care into existing HIV treatment networks.

Telling the story of intersectional stigma in HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in western Kenya: a convergent mixed-methods approach.

INTRODUCTION: The experience of stigma can be multifaceted for people with HIV and cancer. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), one of the most common HIV-associated cancers in sub-Saharan Africa, often presents with visible skin lesions that may put people at risk for stigmatization. In this way, HIV-associated KS is unique, as people with KS can experience stigma associated with HIV, cancer, and skin disease simultaneously. The aim of this study is to characterize the intersectionality of HIV-related, cancer-related and skin disease-related stigma in people living with HIV and KS. METHODS: We used a convergent mixed-methods approach nested within a longitudinal study of people with HIV-associated KS in western Kenya. Between February 2019 and December 2020, we collected quantitative surveys among all participants and conducted semi-structured interviews among a purposive sample of participants. Quantitative surveys were adapted from the abridged Berger HIV Stigma Scale to assess overall stigma, HIV-related stigma, cancer-related stigma, and skin disease-related stigma. Qualitative data were coded using stigma constructs from the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework. RESULTS: In 88 semi-structured interviews, stigma was a major barrier to KS diagnosis and treatment among people with HIV-associated KS. Participant's stories of stigma were dominated by HIV-related stigma, more than cancer-related or skin disease-related stigma. However, quantitative stigma scores among the 117 participants were similar for HIV-related (Median: 28.00; IQR: 28.0, 34.0), cancer-related (Median: 28.0; IQR: 28.0, 34.8), and skin disease-related stigma (Median: 28.0; IQR: 27.0, 34.0). In semi-structured interviews, cancer-related and skin disease-related stigma were more subtle contributors; cancer-related stigma was linked to fatalism and skin-related stigma was linked to visible disease. Participants reported resolution of skin lesions contributed to lessening stigma over time; there was a significant decline in quantitative scores of overall stigma in time since KS diagnosis (adjusted ß = -0.15, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the role mixed-method approaches can play in better understanding stigma in people living with both HIV and cancer. While HIV-related stigma may dominate perceptions of stigma among people with KS in Kenya, intersectional experiences of stigma may be subtle, and quantitative evaluation alone may be insufficient to understand intersectional stigma in certain contexts.

Understanding Diagnostic Delays for Kaposi Sarcoma in Kenya: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Although HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage in sub-Saharan Africa, reasons for diagnostic delays have not been well described. METHODS: We enrolled patients >18 years with newly diagnosed KS between 2016 and 2019 into the parent study, based in western Kenya. We then purposively selected 30 participants with diversity of disease severity and geographic locations to participate in semistructured interviews. We used 2 behavioral models in developing the codebook for this analysis: situated Information, Motivation, and Behavior framework and Andersen model of total patient delay. We then analyzed the interviews using framework analysis. RESULTS: The most common patient factors that delayed diagnosis were lack of KS awareness, seeking traditional treatments, lack of personal efficacy, lack of social support, and fear of cancer, skin biopsy, amputation, and HIV diagnosis. Health system factors that delayed diagnosis included previous negative health care interactions, incorrect diagnoses, lack of physical examination, delayed referral, and lack of tissue biopsy availability. Financial constraints were prominent barriers for patients to access and receive care. Facilitators for diagnosis included being part of an HIV care network, living near health facilities, trust in the health care system, desire to treat painful or disfiguring lesions, and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of KS awareness among patients and providers, stigma surrounding diagnoses, and health system referral delays were barriers in reaching KS diagnosis. Improved public health campaigns, increased availability of biopsy and pathology facilities, and health provider training about KS are needed to improve early diagnosis of KS.

Clinical and pathologic correlation of cutaneous COVID-19 vaccine reactions including V-REPP: A registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous reactions after COVID-19 vaccination have been commonly reported; however, histopathologic features and clinical correlations have not been well characterized. METHODS: We evaluated for a history of skin biopsy all reports of reactions associated with COVID-19 vaccination identified in an international registry. When histopathology reports were available, we categorized them by reaction patterns. RESULTS: Of 803 vaccine reactions reported, 58 (7%) cases had biopsy reports available for review. The most common histopathologic reaction pattern was spongiotic dermatitis, which clinically ranged from robust papules with overlying crust, to pityriasis rosea-like eruptions, to pink papules with fine scale. We propose the acronym "V-REPP" (vaccine-related eruption of papules and plaques) for this spectrum. Other clinical patterns included bullous pemphigoid-like (n = 12), dermal hypersensitivity (n = 4), herpes zoster (n = 4), lichen planus-like (n = 4), pernio (n = 3), urticarial (n = 2), neutrophilic dermatosis (n = 2), leukocytoclastic vasculitis (n = 2), morbilliform (n = 2), delayed large local reactions (n = 2), erythromelalgia (n = 1), and other (n = 5). LIMITATIONS: Cases in which histopathology was available represented a minority of registry entries. Analysis of registry data cannot measure incidence. CONCLUSION: Clinical and histopathologic correlation allowed for categorization of cutaneous reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine. We propose defining a subset of vaccine-related eruption of papules and plaques, as well as 12 other patterns, following COVID-19 vaccination.

Learning from disease registries during a pandemic: Moving toward an international federation of patient registries.

High-quality dermatology patient registries often require considerable time to develop and produce meaningful data. Development time is influenced by registry complexity and regulatory hurdles that vary significantly nationally and institutionally. The rapid emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has challenged health services in an unprecedented manner. Mobilization of the dermatology community in response has included rapid development and deployment of multiple, partially harmonized, international patient registries, reinventing established patient registry timelines. Partnership with patient organizations has demonstrated the critical nature of inclusive patient involvement. This global effort has demonstrated the value, capacity, and necessity for the dermatology community to adopt a more cohesive approach to patient registry development and data sharing that can lead to myriad benefits. These include improved utilization of limited resources, increased data interoperability, improved ability to rapidly collect meaningful data, and shortened response times to generate real-world evidence. We call on the global dermatology community to support the development of an international federation of patient registries to consolidate and operationalize the lessons learned during this pandemic. This will provide an enduring means of applying this knowledge to the maintenance and development of sustainable, coherent, and impactful patient registries of benefit now and in the future.

Dermatology COVID-19 Registries: Updates and Future Directions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid, real-world evidence is essential for the development of knowledge and subsequent public health response. In dermatology, provider-facing and patient-facing registries focused on COVID-19 have been important sources of research and new information aimed at guiding optimal patient care. The 7 dermatology registries included in this update now include more than 8000 case reports sourced from physicians and patients from countries all over the world.

COVID-19 Vaccines and the Skin: The Landscape of Cutaneous Vaccine Reactions Worldwide.

In 2021, we entered a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. As mass vaccinations are underway and more vaccines are approved, it is important to recognize cutaneous adverse events. We review the dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19 vaccines as reported in clinical trial data and summarize additional observational reports of skin reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. Early-onset local injection reactions were the most common cutaneous side effects observed in clinical trials; delayed injection reactions were the most common cutaneous side effect reported outside of clinical trials. Understanding the landscape of cutaneous manifestations to COVID-19 vaccines is key to providing appropriate vaccine guidance.

How Coronavirus Disease 2019 Changed Dermatology Practice in 1 Year Around the World: Perspectives from 11 Countries.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought the world to its knees. As each nation grappled with launching an effective response while simultaneously minimizing repercussions on health care systems, economies, and societies, the medical and scientific landscape shifted forever. In particular, COVID-19 has challenged and transformed the field of dermatology and the way we practice. In this article, dermatologists from 11 countries share insights gained from local experience. These global perspectives will help provide a better framework for delivering quality dermatologic care and understanding how the field has evolved during this medical crisis.