The Reemergence of Syphilis Among Females of Reproductive Age and Congenital Syphilis in Victoria, Australia, 2010 to 2020: A Public Health Priority.

Autor: Borg SA; From the Victorian Department of Health., Tenneti N; From the Victorian Department of Health., Lee A; From the Victorian Department of Health., Drewett GP; From the Victorian Department of Health., Ivan M; From the Victorian Department of Health., Giles ML
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Sexually transmitted diseases [Sex Transm Dis] 2023 Aug 01; Vol. 50 (8), pp. 479-484. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 May 03.
DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001825
Abstrakt: Background: Syphilis notifications in Victoria, Australia, have been increasing over the past decade, with an increase in infectious syphilis (syphilis of less than 2 years in duration) cases in females of reproductive age and an associated reemergence of congenital syphilis (CS). Before 2017, there had been 2 CS cases in the preceding 26 years. This study describes the epidemiology of infectious syphilis among females of reproductive age and CS in Victoria.
Methods: Routine surveillance data provided by mandatory Victorian syphilis case notifications were extracted and grouped into a descriptive analysis of infectious syphilis and CS incidence data from 2010 to 2020.
Results: In 2020, infectious syphilis notifications in Victoria were approximately 5 times more than 2010 (n = 289 in 2010 to n = 1440 in 2020), with a more than 7-fold rise among females (n = 25 in 2010 to n = 186 in 2020). Females made up 29% (n = 60 of 209) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander notifications occurring between 2010 and 2020. Between 2017 and 2020, 67% of notifications in females (n = 456 of 678) were diagnosed in low-caseload clinics, at least 13% (n = 87 of 678) of all female notifications were known to be pregnant at diagnosis, and there were 9 CS notifications.
Conclusions: Cases of infectious syphilis in females of reproductive age and CS are on the rise in Victoria, necessitating sustained public health action. Increasing awareness among individuals and clinicians, and health system strengthening, particularly targeting primary care where most females are diagnosed before pregnancy, are required. Treating infections before or promptly during pregnancy and undertaking partner notification and treatment to reduce risk of reinfection are critical to reducing CS cases.
Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest and Sources of Funding: All authors declare no conflicts of interest. No funding was received for this research.
(Copyright © 2023 American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE