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Volume 32, Number 6—June 2026

Dispatch

Suspected Sexual Transmission of Dermatophilosis among Men Who Have Sex with Men, Barcelona, Spain, 2025–2026

Vicente Descalzo1, Albert Moreno-Mingorance1, Patricia Álvarez-López, Paula Salmerón, Jorge N. García-Pérez, Ferran P. Pericás-Cladera, Jordi Arcarons, Guillem Puigsech-Boixeda, Ilaria Furlan, Ester del Barrio-Tofiño, Sol M. San José, Nieves Larrosa, Vicenç Falcó, Mayli LungComments to Author , Maider Arando2Comments to Author , and Juan José González-López2
Author affiliation: Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain (V. Descalzo, P. Álvarez-López, P. Salmerón, J.N. García-Pérez, F.P. Pericás-Cladera, J. Arcarons, G. Puigsech-Boixeda, I. Furlan, E. del Barrio-Tofiño, S.M. San José, N. Larrosa, V. Falcó, M. Lung, M. Arando, J.J. González-López); Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona (V. Descalzo, N. Larrosa, V. Falcó, M. Lung, M. Arando, J.J. González-López); Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona (A. Moreno-Mingorance, P. Salmerón, F.P. Pericás-Cladera, G. Puigsech-Boixeda, E. del Barrio-Tofiño, S.M. San José, N. Larrosa, V. Falcó, M. Lung, J.J. González-López); CIBER of Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain (A. Moreno-Mingorance, G. Puigsech-Boixeda, N. Larrosa, M. Lung, J.J. González-López)

Main Article

Table

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of dermatophilosis cases in men who have sex with men, Barcelona, Spain, December 2025–March 2026*

Pt no. Age, y HIV Travel in previous month Chemsex Visited sex venue in week before symptom onset Sexual partner with symptoms STI co-infection Symptom duration, d Infection site Lesion types Treatment
1 61 N London, UK N Y, sauna Y Early latent syphilis 15 Thorax Vesicles, Pustules Benzathine penicillin
2 27 N, on PrEP Toulouse, France N Y, sauna Y N 5 Beard, penis, scrotum, thigh Papules, vesicles, pustules Mupirocin, doxycycline
3 47 Y, on ART; CD4 495 cells/mm3 N Y, CM Y, sex club N Early latent syphilis 10 Buttock, scrotum, groin Scaly papules Cefadroxil
4 49 N, on PrEP Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary N Y, sauna Y, pt. no. 5 N 6 Beard, penis, groin Pustules, nodules Cefadroxil
5 54 N, on PrEP Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary N Y, sauna Y, pt. no. 4 N 3 Thigh, armpit Vesicles, pustules Cefadroxil
6 32 N No N Y, sauna N NG, LGV, HSV-2 45 Thigh Nodules, scaly lesions Ceftriaxone, doxycycline
7 66 Y, on ART; CD4 217 cells/mm3 N Y, CM, GHB,
4-MMC		 Y, sauna N No 15 Beard Scaly papules, scabs Cefadroxil
8 29 Y, on ART; CD4 860 cells/mm3 N N Y, sauna N NG, CT 4 Scrotum Pustules, scabs Cefadroxil
9 37 Y, on ART; CD4 475 cells/mm3 N Y, CM, GHB Y, sauna N N 5 Perianal, groin, thigh Scaly papules, pustules, scabs Cloxacillin

*4-MMC, mephedrone; ART, antiretroviral therapy; chemsex, drug use in a sexual context; CM, methamphetamine; CT, Chlamydia trachomatis; GHB, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; HSV-2, herpes simplex virus type 2; LGV, lymphogranuloma venereum; NG, Neisseria gonorrhoeae; PrEP: preexposure prophylaxis; STI, sexually transmitted infection; pt., patient.

Main Article

1These first authors contributed equally to this article.

2These senior authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: April 23, 2026
Page updated: April 30, 2026
Page reviewed: April 30, 2026
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