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Vall d’Hebron detects nine cases of a rare skin infection in Barcelona
Barcelona has detected an unusual outbreak of dermatophilosis, a skin infection that until now was mainly associated with contact with animals such as livestock or horses. Hospital Vall d’Hebron has identified nine human cases between December 2025 and March 2026, all in men who had had sexual relations with other men.
The patients had mild skin lesions: rashes, papules, nodules or pustular lesions in areas such as the genitals, groin, thighs or beard. None developed complications and all recovered well after receiving antibiotic treatment, an important point to lower alarm without downplaying the finding.
What has surprised specialists is not just the infection, but the pattern. The affected individuals had not had recent contact with animals or travelled to areas where this bacterium is more common. The investigation points to possible person-to-person transmission through close contact, probably in sexual contexts and humid environments, such as saunas.
The study, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, notes that genomic analyses show bacteria that are closely related to each other and belong to a distinct lineage within the Dermatophilus genus. This genetic clue helps explain why doctors are talking about a possible change in the mode of transmission, although more data are needed to know how far this phenomenon might go.
Barcelona is not the only place on the map. Researchers have described similar cases in Lyon y París, and infections have also been reported in other European countries, including Germany. The similarity of profiles and contexts has led experts to call for greater clinical attention, as some cases could go unnoticed or be mistaken for other skin lesions.
Doctors emphasise two points at once: there is no reason for panic, but there is reason to be vigilant. The infection appears mild and treatable, but its appearance in human networks means it needs to be recognised early, with careful questioning about contacts, to prevent it from becoming an underdiagnosed dermatosis.
The recommendations are simple: seek medical advice for unusual skin lesions, do not share towels or razors, take extra care with hygiene in humid spaces, and avoid direct contact with wounds or rashes. It is also worth stating clearly: reporting the transmission pattern should not become a source of stigma. Health surveillance works best when people go to the doctor without fear of being singled out.
Vall d’Hebron has been able to identify these cases because it has teams specialised in infectious diseases and microbiological diagnosis. The warning leaves a clear lesson for Barcelona and other large cities: some rare infections do not appear suddenly with a major alarm, but with small lesions that, if no one pays attention, can be mistaken for something minor.