Enhancing Nursing Care in Monkeypox (Mpox) Patients: Differential Diagnoses, Prevention Measures, and Therapeutic Interventions

Abstract

Monkeypox (Mpox), a rare zoonotic viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, has been gaining attention due to its potential for human-to-human transmission and its clinical resemblance to other poxvirus infections, such as smallpox and chickenpox. Enhancing nursing care for monkeypox patients is imperative to manage and contain its spread effectively. This review analyzes the key aspects of enhancing nursing care in monkeypox patients, focusing on differential diagnoses, prevention measures, and therapeutic interventions. Differential diagnosis is crucial in terms of the early recognition and management of monkeypox. Given its similarity to other poxvirus infections, a thorough assessment of clinical symptoms, travel history, and exposure to potential reservoir hosts is essential. Nursing professionals play a pivotal role in eliciting comprehensive patient histories and relaying this information to the medical team for accurate diagnosis. Prevention measures constitute a vital component of nursing care in monkeypox management. Implementing stringent infection prevention and control practices, including isolation protocols, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, and hand hygiene, is imperative to curbing nosocomial transmission. Nurses are at the forefront of enforcing these measures, educating patients, families, and healthcare staff about their significance, and ensuring strict adherence. Therapeutic interventions in monkeypox largely focus on supportive care and symptom management. Nurses occupy a central role in administering antiviral medications, providing wound care for skin lesions, and monitoring patients for potential complications such as secondary bacterial infections. Psychosocial support is equally important, as patients often experience fear and anxiety due to the disease's contagious nature. Nursing professionals offer compassionate care, address patients' emotional needs, and facilitate communication between patients and their families. Enhancing nursing care for monkeypox entails a multifaceted approach involving differential diagnoses, prevention measures, and therapeutic interventions. Nursing professionals serve as frontline caregivers, pivotal in early diagnosis, effective prevention strategies, and comprehensive patient management. As the global healthcare community faces an influx of emerging infectious diseases, the lessons learned from managing monkeypox can contribute to the creation of a more resilient and responsive nursing workforce capable of effectively addressing future health challenges.

Challenges and Counteracting Strategies Including Optimum Health Service Practices for Frontline Nurses During the Mpox Outbreak and Futuristic Vision

“…Nurses’ mental health is an important aspect that interferes with their ability to work. Counseling is considered an effective strategy to enhance mental health and reduce psychological problems, including stress ( Ahmed, M-Amin, et al, 2022 ; Dubey et al, 2023 ; Hans et al, 2022 ; Ibrahim et al, 2022 ; Nimbi et al, 2023 ). It is regarded as a part of regular follow-up by psychologists during this pandemic of COVID-19.…”

“…They frequently worked long hours in an effort to uphold the standard of care. Furthermore, they encountered the formidable obstacle of insufficient accessibility to personal protective equipment (PPE), encompassing masks, gowns, and gloves ( Dubey et al, 2023 ; Ibrahim et al, 2022 ). The limited availability of crucial protective equipment not only increased the likelihood of infection but also induced psychological anguish among nurses, who were concerned about sharing the virus to their families and communities.…”

Knowledge, Attitude and Associated Factors of Monkeypox Infection Among Healthcare Workers in Injibara General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…26 Treatment primarily focuses on managing symptoms and providing supportive care through the use of antiviral drugs, pain relievers, and fluids to prevent dehydration. [26][27][28] Prevention measures include smallpox vaccination, 29 practicing good hygiene, avoiding contact with infected individuals, isolation and quarantine, and using personal protective equipment. 30,31 Effective contact tracing, early detection, and robust surveillance are also imperative in controlling mpox spread.…”

“…Some health workers demonstrated a positive attitude 35,47 displaying a willingness to care for mpox patients and adherence to infection prevention and control measures. 27,37 However, other studies reported negative attitudes, such as fear, stigmatization, [48][49][50] and refusal to care for mpox patients. 51 Satisfactory attitude towards mpox was observed in less than a third (30.7%) of Lebanon healthcare workers.…”