Syphilis control programs and research received fewer resources and attention compared to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the pre-pandemic era. The neglect of syphilis within comprehensive STI control efforts may be related to diagnostic (poor diagnostics), historical (legacies of racism in research), public health (limited partner services), and social problems (limited public engagement). At the same time, there are increasingly compelling reasons to prioritize syphilis control programs and research by harnessing lessons learned and advances during COVID-19. The closure of many STI facilities has accelerated new syphilis diagnostic pathways (e.g., syphilis self-testing), providing new ways for people to be screened outside of clinics. COVID-19 has underlined health inequities that fuel syphilis transmission, providing an opportunity to reckon with the historical legacy of racism that is linked to syphilis research. COVID-19 partner tracing efforts have also contributed to additional resources for partner services which may enhance syphilis control efforts. Finally, COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of public engagement, making the case for greater public involvement in syphilis control and prevention programs. Urgent action is needed to prioritize syphilis control in a wide range of settings.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.899200 | DOI Listing |
PLoS One
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Introduction: Co-infections of syphilis and HIV have been found to exacerbate the impact on sexual and reproductive health, especially among key population groups such as Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and Transgender Individuals (TGs). The data on the prevalence and determinants of syphilis and HIV in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh province, is limited. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for HIV and syphilis infections among FSWs and TGs in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLancet Reg Health Am
November 2024
Ministry of Health - Brazil, Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STIs, AIDS, and Viral Hepatitis, SRTVN Quadra 701, Lote D, Edifício PO700 - 5º Andar, CEP: 70719-040, Brasília/DF, Brazil.
Background: We aimed to examine factors associated with prenatal syphilis, including prenatal care, and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women with HIV in Brazil.
Methods: Retrospective data were gathered from a national cohort of Brazilian women with HIV on antiretroviral therapy who became pregnant between January 2015 and May 2018. Prenatal syphilis was defined by clinical diagnoses with treatment or any positive syphilis laboratory result between 30 days before conception and pregnancy conclusion.
J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect
November 2024
Department of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC, USA.
Neurosyphilis is a condition characterized by insidious onset of encephalopathy and delirium. The infrequency with which it is encountered makes neurosyphilis a formidable diagnostic challenge. We present a rare case of a 71-year-old male with ischemic cardiomyopathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), undifferentiated arthritis and alcohol use disorder who was brought to the emergency department after he was found altered, confused, and paranoid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 1201 E Marshall St #4-100, 23298, Richmond, VA, USA.
Routine preventive care (RPC) services are recommended for people with HIV, who have higher risk of certain preventable conditions. We used a pooled cross-section of patient-years to examine receipt of 5 annual RPC services among Medicaid enrollees in the US South. Data were person-level administrative claims (Medicaid Analytic eXtract, 2008-2012) and county-level characteristics for 16 Southern states plus District of Columbia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Infect Dis
January 2025
Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
National case-based surveillance data show that reported neurologic manifestations of syphilis increased during 2019-2022 among persons with early and late-stage syphilis. Neurologic manifestations occurred across demographic groups and among those with and without HIV, highlighting the importance of evaluating for neurologic signs and symptoms in all persons with syphilis.
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