Awareness of monkeypox virus among sexual medicine experts is low: a multi-institutional survey

An international outbreak of Monkeypox (mpox), a zoonotic orthopox virus, was confirmed by the World Health Organization in May 2022. The outbreak represented the first sustained community transmission of mpox beyond West or Central Africa, with speculated causes including declining smallpox vaccination rates, increased international travel, expanding populations, and sexual interactions. This study aimed to assess the understanding and recognition of mpox among sexual medicine experts including the identification of pertained genital lesions. An anonymous electronic survey was developed, addressing clinical manifestations, transmission, and management of mpox. It was distributed to attendees of the 23rd Joint Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA)/the 23rd International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) conference, 2022. We collected data on various aspects of mpox awareness among the attendees, examining frequencies and percentages of responses. Of 960 conference attendees, 97 (10.1%) responded. Respondents exhibited limited knowledge regarding the recognition of mpox lesions (25.8%), likelihood of anogenital lesions (15.5%), and associated oral or proctitis bleeding (19.6 and 3.1% accuracy respectively). While 78.4% accurately identified contact as the primary transmission mode, knowledge regarding vaccination recommendations (42.3%) and median time from exposure to symptom onset (41.2%) was limited. The survey revealed substantial knowledge gaps among sexual medicine experts regarding mpox. Enhancing education and awareness initiatives is essential to improve preparedness for potential mpox outbreaks, enabling better patient care, and effective management within healthcare systems.