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Volume 31, Number 9—September 2025
Letter
Nosocomial Transmission of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria, Spain, 2024
Suggested citation for this article
In Response: We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the letter from Dr. Perales (1) regarding our article on a case of nosocomial transmission of Plasmodium falciparum during a thyroid scintigraphy (2). The author of the letter proposes as an alternative mechanism the nosocomial transmission of the parasite by contact with blood on gloves not changed between patients. We respectfully disagree because the mechanism he proposes lacks scientific basis; no evidence of malaria transmission by such contact has been documented. On the contrary, nosocomial transmission of P. falciparum by parenteral route is well demonstrated, through blood transfusions, transplants (3), or invasive medical procedures involving exposure to contaminated blood (3), as occurred in our case (2).
References
- Romero MFL, de Pipaón MRP, Amuedo MDN, Rubio Muñoz JM, Jiménez-Hoyuela JM, Cisneros JM. Nosocomial transmission of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, Spain, 2024. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31:1250–3.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Romero MFL, de Pipaón MRP, Amuedo MDN, Rubio Muñoz JM, Jiménez-Hoyuela JM, Cisneros JM. Nosocomial transmission of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, Spain, 2024. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31:1250–3.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Romero MFL, de Pipaón MRP, Amuedo MDN, Rubio Muñoz JM, Jiménez-Hoyuela JM, Cisneros JM. Nosocomial transmission of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, Spain, 2024. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31:1250–3. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- ISCIII-Vigilancia en Salud Pública-RENAVE. ISCIII portal web [cited 2025 Aug 3]. https://www.isciii.es/servicios/vigilancia-salud-publica-renave
Suggested citation for this article: Liroa Romero MF, Ruiz Pérez de Pipaón M, Navarro Amuedo MD, Rubio Muñoz JM, Jiménez-Hoyuela JM, Cisneros JM. Nosocomial transmission of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, Spain, 2024. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025 Sep [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3109.251210
Original Publication Date: August 20, 2025
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Table of Contents – Volume 31, Number 9—September 2025
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Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:
Jose M. Cisneros, Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Manuel Siurot Ave, s/n. 41013 Sevilla, Spain
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