Mpox

What clinicians need to know about the mpox outbreak

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) has compiled and developed resources on what clinicians need to know about mpox (formerly monkeypox). While mpox is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting two to four weeks, severe cases and death have occurred during the current outbreak, so it is important for critical care clinicians to recognize potential mpox infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging U.S. healthcare professionals to be alert for patients who have rash illnesses consistent with mpox, regardless of whether they have traveled recently or have specific risk factors for mpox and regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

From SCCM

Monkeypox: Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention
This SCCM webcast reviews risk factors and features of severe mpox and how critical care professionals can play a role in its treatment.

Mpox Outbreak: Frequently Asked Questions
SCCM experts summarize frequently asked questions for clinicians

From the CDC

Situational Update for Clinicians about Severe Monkeypox Virus Infections
CDC COCA Call on October 6, 2022

What Clinicians Need to Know about Monkeypox in the United States and Other Countries
CDC COCA Call on May 24, 2022

Other Resources

	Monkeypox 101: What Clinicians Need to Know
	A July 29 letter from CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, notes that pain is emerging as a major issue with monkeypox and provides basic tools for managing it.

Name Change

The World Health Organization will be transitioning to using the preferred term “mpox” while phasing out the term monkeypox over the next year.

SCCM supports this change. The former term may still appear in existing SCCM resources and in limited instances to mitigate confusion and allow for resources to be searchable amidst the current outbreak.