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Scabies and Bedbugs in Hospital Outbreaks

  • Healthcare Associated Infections (G Bearman and D Morgan, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Scabies and bedbugs are two emerging ectoparasitic infections reported in crowded areas, including hospitals. Skin involvement is the main presenting initial manifestation for both infections, and the diagnosis is yet challenging for both. Topical permethrin is considered the first-line therapy for scabies except for crusted scabies which is mainly treated with oral ivermectin. To the contrary, treatment of bedbugs is mainly symptomatic. Avoiding close contact, early diagnosis and treatment of infected persons as well as decontamination of the involved environment play an essential role in controlling outbreaks in healthcare settings.

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Conflict of Interest

Maroun Sfeir declares no conflicts of interest. L. Silvia Munoz-Price declares no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

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Correspondence to Maroun Sfeir.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Healthcare Associated Infections

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Sfeir, M., Munoz-Price, L.S. Scabies and Bedbugs in Hospital Outbreaks. Curr Infect Dis Rep 16, 412 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-014-0412-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-014-0412-2

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