Plasmodium vivax infection due to percutaneous exposure in non-endemic area

Abstract

Malaria is an acute febrile disease due to Plasmodium species widely distributed in tropical areas of the world and it is a leading cause of death in developing countries. In 2018, 62.141 confirmed cases of malaria were reported in Colombia with P. vivax and Plasmodium falciparum being the causal species. Vectorial transmission is the most common way of acquiring the infection, however it can also occur by blood transfusion, transplacental route and percutaneous exposure. We describe a case of P. vivax infection by needle stick injury in a laboratory technician in Bogotá, Colombia.

Keywords: Fever; Malaria; Needle stick injuries; Occupational exposure; Plasmodium vivax.