Anasthesiologie und Intensivmedizin
Volume 58, Issue 10, 2017, Pages 534-541

Mass therapy with ivermectin for scabies outbreak during the refugee crisis in Germany in 2015 [Systemische antiinfektive Therapie eines Skabiesausbruchs mit Ivermectin in einem Flüchtlingslager] (Article)

Solbach P. , Sedlacek L. , Schmidt R.E. , Behrens G.M.N. , Jablonka A.*
  • a Klinik Für Gastroenterologie Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany, Institut Für Klinische Mikrobiologie und Krankenhaushygiene, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany, Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Standort Hannover- Braunschweig, Germany
  • b Institut Für Klinische Mikrobiologie und Krankenhaushygiene, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  • c Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Standort Hannover- Braunschweig, Germany, Klinik Für Immunologie und Rheumatologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany
  • d Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Standort Hannover- Braunschweig, Germany, Klinik Für Immunologie und Rheumatologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany
  • e Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Standort Hannover- Braunschweig, Germany, Klinik Für Immunologie und Rheumatologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany

Abstract

Background: Scabies is one of the most common parasitic infections occurring in shared accommodations for refugees. Until right now, no data or implementation of a mass therapy are available for a scabies outbreak in a reception centre in Germany. Objective: To describe the logistic and medical problems in the realisation of a mass therapy for a scabies outbreak. Materials and methods: Retrospective data evaluation and case description of a mass therapy with ivermectin, a drug not licensed in Germany (2015), in a refugee reception center. Results: 459 patients were treated with oral doses of ivermectin as part of the mass therapy, 27.5% (127/459) were women. The median age of the men was 24 years (IQR 19-32); women were 3 years younger, with a median age of 21 years (IQR 10-33). 25.7% (118/459) of the refugees were underaged. Symptomatic patients had an itch for at least 2.5 weeks. Weight-adjusted, the patients received a median dose of 12 mg ivermectin (4 tablets). Due to liver disease, one patient was excluded from treatment. No serious adverse reactions occurred. Conclusions: Despite the medical and logistical challenges, mass treatment of scabies with a drug unavailable in Germany was feasible. The approval of oral ivermectin in 2016 will significantly simplify implementation in the future. Serious acute side effects did not occur.

Author Keywords

Mass therapy Ivermectin Refugees Asylum seeker Scabies

Index Keywords

male female major clinical study Germany ivermectin refugee liver disease retrospective study Article scabies receptive field human adult Treatment Outcome
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85031292417&doi=10.19224%2fai2017.534&partnerID=40&md5=c181f5fcd3032e375477314a73920a80
DOI: 10.19224/ai2017.534
ISSN: 01705334
Original Language: German