STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING SCABIES OUTBREAKS IN PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES WITH EMERGING PERMETHRIN RESISTANCE

• Dr. Lucia T. Marino

  Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

  Author

• Dr. Samuel K. Opoku

  Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

  Author

• Dr. Omar Y. Nasr

  Department of Clinical Microbiology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

  Author

Scabies outbreaks in psychiatric facilities are tough to handle. They pop up because people live close together, patients can be really vulnerable, and the usual treatments, like permethrin, aren't working as well as they used to. This article lays out a full plan for tackling these outbreaks. We'll talk about smarter ways to diagnose scabies, new treatment options, and strict infection control steps. It’s super important to get the diagnosis right, using everything from a good look at the skin to special tools like dermoscopy and microscopes. Since permethrin isn't always cutting it, we're suggesting using oral ivermectin, maybe with old-school remedies like sulfur ointment, as the main go-to. Keeping places clean and teaching staff are key to stopping the spread. We also can't forget the unique challenges in psychiatric care, like patients struggling with treatment or feeling ashamed. A successful plan means being proactive, flexible, and really focusing on the patient, bringing together effective treatments, strong infection control, and a caring approach to get rid of outbreaks and keep everyone – patients and staff – safe and sound.

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