National Study on the Epidemiology and Effectiveness of Therapies in the Treatment of Scabies (SCAB-net)

Studio Nazionale Sull'Epidemiologia ed Efficacia Delle Terapie Nel Trattamento Della Scabbia

Multicentre retrospective, prospective, non-profit, national observational study

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Scabies
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: data collection; Other: data collection

Detailed Description

Scabies is an infectious skin condition caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. This mite can only parasitise and reproduce in the outermost layer of human skin (the stratum corneum). The disease is typically transmitted through human-to-human contact, though it can also be transmitted through fomites. It affects between 200 and 300 million people worldwide each year, with considerable variation in prevalence ranging from 0.2% to 71.4% in different regions. Over the past 10-20 years, the frequency of epidemics appears to be increasing, not only in countries where scabies is prevalent, but also in states that have historically experienced low rates of infection.The increase in cases across Europe, coupled with the rapid epidemic spread of the disease and the emergence of resistance to topical treatments, underscores the imperative for a comprehensive and systematic study involving multiple centres.

The primary guidelines for managing scabies involve performing environmental hygiene measures, such as washing and changing clothing daily and cleaning all surfaces that come into contact with the skin.

In terms of treatment, the European Society of Dermatology and Venereology guidelines recommend topical permethrin or benzyl benzoate and oral ivermectin as first-line treatments.

Apply topical permethrin 5% cream in the evening to cool, dry skin all over your body, including the folds, navel, limbs, genitals, the area behind your ears and under your nails. If there are any suspicious lesions, the scalp and face should also be treated, avoiding the areas around the eyes and lips. Leave the cream in place for 8-12 hours and apply a second dose after 7-14 days.

Oral ivermectin should be taken as a single dose at a dosage of 200 μg/kg, repeated in the same manner after seven days. Although European guidelines recommend taking it on a full stomach, the manufacturer and other guidelines recommend taking it on an empty stomach.

Benzyl benzoate lotion at a concentration of 10-25% is applied for two evenings and left in place for 8-12 hours. A third application should be made after seven days.

The treatment should be carried out not only by the patient, but also by their close contacts - usually members of their household - and should be extended to anyone who has had prolonged and continuous contact with individuals who are ill.

Topical permethrin cream at 5% is the first-line treatment for scabies in Italy. However, there has recently been an increase in reports of treatment failure. This phenomenon has also become increasingly prevalent in many other European countries. Therapy failure is likely to be due to a combination of factors, including drug resistance. Incorrect use of the treatment in terms of the amount of active ingredient, the method of application and/or the timing could be the cause of treatment failure.

The increase in cases in Europe, the rapid spread of the disease and the growing phenomenon of treatment resistance highlight the need for a large, systematic study involving several centres. Therefore, we propose a national multicentre retrospective and prospective observational study that aims to evaluate epidemiological data (prevalence, incidence, affected ethnicities and population groups), the most frequently used treatments, and treatment failures.

This study aims to evaluate the success rate of first-line therapies according to European guidelines in patients diagnosed with scabies and their close contacts (family members/caregivers). This will be achieved by observing patients with scabies who attend outpatient clinics for diagnosis, treatment and/or follow-up.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1332

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Naples, Italy, 80138
    • Università VANVITELLI
  • Novara, Italy, 28100
    • Aou Maggiore Della Carita
  • AT
    • Asti, AT, Italy, 14100
      • Ospedale Cardinal Massaia
  • BG
    • Bergamo, BG, Italy, 24127
      • ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII
  • BO
    • Bologna, BO, Italy, 40138
      • IRCCS AOU di Bologna
  • FG
    • Foggia, FG, Italy, 71122
      • Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia
  • FI
    • Florence, FI, Italy, 50100
      • USL Toscana Centro
    • Florence, FI, Italy, 50139
      • Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Meyer IRCCS
  • GE
    • Genova, GE, Italy, 16132
      • Ospedale Policlinico San Martino
  • Italy, CA
    • Cagliari, Italy, CA, Italy, 09123
      • AOU San Giovanni di Dio
  • Italy/Trento
    • Trento, Italy/Trento, Italy, 38123
      • APSS - Ospedale Santa Chiara
  • LC
    • Lecco, LC, Italy, 23900
      • ASST LECCO Alessandro Manzoni
  • LU
    • Lido di Camaiore, LU, Italy, 55041
      • Ospedale Versilia
    • Lucca, LU, Italy, 55100
      • ASL Toscana Nord Ovest
  • Maine
    • Messina, Maine, Italy, 98124
      • AOU Policlinico Gaetano Martino
  • Michigan
    • Milan, Michigan, Italy, 20122
      • Fondazione IRCCS CA' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
  • PV
    • Pavia, PV, Italy, 27100
      • Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo IRCCS
  • RA
    • Ravenna, RA, Italy, 48121
      • AUSL della Romagna
  • RM
    • Roma, RM, Italy, 00133
      • Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata
    • Roma, RM, Italy, 00144
      • Istituto San Gallicano
  • TO
    • Torino, TO, Italy, 10126
      • Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
  • UD
    • Udine, UD, Italy, 33100
      • AOU S.Maria della Misericordia
  • VR
    • Verona, VR, Italy, 37126
      • Ospedale Civico Maggiore Borgo Trento

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients with scabies and their close contacts (household/partners) afferent to the outpatient clinics of participating Italian centers during the duration of the study will be included in the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients of any age with clinical and/or dermoscopic and/or microscopic diagnosis of scabies.
• Close contacts (household/relatives) of patients diagnosed with scabies.
• Obtaining informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• There are no exclusion criteria.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
prospective cohort; Patients diagnosed with scabies who attend outpatient clinics and their close contacts (household members and partners) at the various participating centres from the date of study approval until 31/12/2025 will be included, along with additional parameters regarding treatment, failures and epidemiological and clinical assessments.	Other: data collection; Biographical data: age; immunodeficiency; bedridden condition. Household data: number of people in the household, original state of the household, presence of paediatric cases weighing more or less than 15 kg, presence of a language barrier. Diagnostic criteria: clinical, dermatoscopic and/or microscopic. Clinical data: affected areas, non-specific therapies previously carried out. Days of isolation of the index case (if applicable). Treatment data: the first specific anti-mite therapy carried out, including the mode of administration; the number of days since the onset of the illness; the number of people treated per index case; the drug with which recovery was achieved (if known); and the time taken for recovery. Data for investigating treatment failures: answers to questions concerning treatment carried out with close contacts and cohabitants, correct information about environmental remediation implementation, number of therapy cycles carried out and follow-up timeframe.; Other: data collection; Only the number of registered scabies cases and whether or not treatment has failed will be taken into account. No clinical data from the patients will be extrapolated.
retrospective cohort; Only the number of registered scabies cases and the presence or absence of treatment failures will be considered; no clinical patient data will be extrapolated.	Other: data collection; Biographical data: age; immunodeficiency; bedridden condition. Household data: number of people in the household, original state of the household, presence of paediatric cases weighing more or less than 15 kg, presence of a language barrier. Diagnostic criteria: clinical, dermatoscopic and/or microscopic. Clinical data: affected areas, non-specific therapies previously carried out. Days of isolation of the index case (if applicable). Treatment data: the first specific anti-mite therapy carried out, including the mode of administration; the number of days since the onset of the illness; the number of people treated per index case; the drug with which recovery was achieved (if known); and the time taken for recovery. Data for investigating treatment failures: answers to questions concerning treatment carried out with close contacts and cohabitants, correct information about environmental remediation implementation, number of therapy cycles carried out and follow-up timeframe.; Other: data collection; Only the number of registered scabies cases and whether or not treatment has failed will be taken into account. No clinical data from the patients will be extrapolated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Healing Rate	The cure rate is represented by the number of patients who were cured after the first treatment.	From the date of enrolment until the date of healing, assessed up to 52 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frequency of scabies diagnosis	Assess the trend in the absolute frequency of scabies diagnoses over the past three years.	From the date of enrolment to the previous three years
Epidemiological analyses	Conduct descriptive epidemiological analyses by categorising the observed cases according to age group, ethnicity, and time distribution over the study period.	at the end of the study
body distribution	Evaluate which body areas are most affected by the disease, and establish whether involvement in certain areas predicts treatment failure.	Baseline
presence/absence of clinical parameters	Evaluate the clinical parameters of the index case, such as immunodepression and allurement. Consider whether any previous non-specific therapies may have increased the likelihood of treatment failure.	Baseline
presence/absence of language barriers	Evaluate whether a language barrier exists between healthcare workers and patients, as incorrect intake of therapy in terms of dosage and timing, as well as a lack of or incorrect environmental hygiene measures, may be correlated with treatment failure or re-infestation.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Societa Italiana di Dermatologia Medica, Chirurgica, Estetica e di Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 7, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 13, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 18, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 26, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 25, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Parasitic Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Skin Diseases, Parasitic; Mite Infestations; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Scabies; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Methods; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Data Collection
• Other Study ID Numbers: SID06; RSO ID - 477 (Other Identifier: AIFA)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No