A doctor has become infected with monkeypox virus from a needlestick injury sustained after puncturing a patient’s pustular rash to collect a fluid sample. 

Writing in Emerging Infectious Diseases this week, doctors say the case is notable as an occupational percutaneous injury as most healthcare worker cases have been acquired in the community.

The incident — which occurred in the infectious diseases department of a hospital in Portugal — underscored the importance of adhering to guidance, which specified avoidance of sharp instruments when swabbing, the authors wrote.

The 29-year-old doctor decided to use a needle to ensure an adequate sample after failing to collect sufficient material from swabbing the patient’s rash, later confirmed to be monkeypox.