| Abstrakt: |
Background and aims: In many western European countries, the rate of CS has increased over time due to a high serum-prevalence of syphilis serum-positivity in fertile immigrant women.We aimed to study the prevalence of Congenital Syphilis (CS) and its risk factors in Italy.Methods: We performed a prospective national study from July 1st2006 to June 30th2007, involving 94 hospitals.Data of mother-child pairs were obtained from adhoc forms for every syphilis serum-positive pregnant woman.Results: 25/207 infants, born to 203 serum-positive mothers, were diagnosed for CS (20 cases in 100.000 live births). Maternal risk factors for CS were age < 20 years (RR 3.44, 95% CI 1.63-7.27), no prenatal care (RR 3.10, 95% CI 1.47-6.21) and no adequate treatment during pregnancy (RR 15.32, 95% CI 5.22-47.31). No association between CS and single marital status, unemployment and coexistence of other maternal infections was found. Infected babies were more probably preterm (RR 5.72, 95% CI 2.93-11.18), with a birth weight < 2000 g (RR 7.85, 95% CI 4.37-14.11) than non-infected ones.The prevalence of syphilis serum-positivity was higher among immigrant women; nevertheless, there was no difference between infants born to foreign and Italian mothers in the risk of CS.Conclusions: The present study highlights the opportunity of prenatal syphilis screening in all pregnant women, both immigrant and Italian, in order to recognize and treat maternal infection, thus preventing mother-to-child transmission. |
