The prevention and management of congenital syphilis: An overview and recommendations

Bulletin of the World Health Organization

Volumn 82, Issue 6, 2004, Pages 424-430

  Saloojee, Haroon ^a   Velaphi, Sithembiso ^a   Goga, Yasmin ^a   Afadapa, Nike ^a   Steen, Richard ^b   Lincetto, Ornella ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND   (South Africa)

^b WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

Cost of illness; Prenatal care utilization; Prenatal diagnosis; Review literature; Risk factors; Syphilis serodiagnosis; Syphilis, Congenital diagnosis therapy

Indexed keywords

DISEASE CONTROL; DISEASE TRANSMISSION; HEALTH CARE; PREGNANCY; PUBLIC HEALTH; SYPHILIS;

CONGENITAL SYPHILIS; COST EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS; DIAGNOSTIC TEST; ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY; FEMALE; HEALTH CARE FACILITY; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HEALTH CARE QUALITY; HEALTH PROGRAM; HUMAN; IMMUNOBLOTTING; INFANT; INFECTION CONTROL; POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION; PRACTICE GUIDELINE; PREGNANT WOMAN; PRENATAL CARE; PRENATAL SCREENING; REVIEW; SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY; SEROLOGY; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE; SYMPTOMATOLOGY;

DISEASE TRANSMISSION, VERTICAL; FEMALE; HUMANS; INFANT, NEWBORN; MASS SCREENING; PREGNANCY; PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS, INFECTIOUS; PRENATAL CARE; PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT; SYPHILIS SERODIAGNOSIS; SYPHILIS, CONGENITAL;

EID: 3042586024     PISSN: 00429686     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Review

References (53)

1. Walker DG, Walker GJ. Forgotten but not gone: the continuing scourge of congenital syphilis. Lancet Infectious Diseases 2002;2:432-6.
2. Finelli L, Berman SM, Koumans EH, Levine WC. Congenital syphilis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1998;76 Suppl 2:126-8.
3. Genc M, Ledger WJ. Syphilis in pregnancy. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2000;76:73-9.
4. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines 2002. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002;51 (RR-6):18-30.
5. Hurtig AK, Nicoll A, Carne C, Lissauer T, Connor N, Webster JP, et al. Syphilis in pregnant women and their children in the United Kingdom: results from national clinician reporting surveys 1994-7. BMJ 1998;317:1617-9.
6. Riedner G, Dehne KL, Gromyko A. Recent declines in reported syphilis rates in eastern Europe and central Asia: are the epidemics over? Sexually Transmitted Infections 2000;76:363-5.
7. Davanzo R, Antonio C, Pulella A, Lincetto O, Schierano S. Neonatal and post-neonatal onset of early congenital syphilis: a report from Mozambique. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics 1992;12:445-50.
8. Hira SK, Ratnam AV, Sehgal D, Bhat GJ, Chintu C, Lulenga RC. Congenital syphilis in Lusaka: incidence in a general nursery ward. East African Medical Journal 1982;59:241-6.
9. Beksinska ME, Mullick S, Kunene B, Rees H, Deperthes B. A case study of antenatal syphilis screening in South Africa: successes and challenges. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2002;29:32-7.
10. Lubiganon P, Piaggio G, Villar J, Pinol A, Bakketeig L, Bergsjo P, et al. The epidemiology of syphilis in pregnancy. International Journal of STD and AIDS 2002;13:486-94.
11. Tikhonova L, Salakhov E, Southwick K, Shakarishvili A, Ryan C, Hillis S. Congenital syphilis in the Russian Federation: magnitude, determinants, and consequences. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2003;79:106-10.
12. Schulz KF, Murphy FK, Patamasucon P, Meheus AZ. Congenital syphilis. In: Holmes KK, Mardh PA, Sparling PF, Weisner PJ, editors. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 1990. p. 821-42.
13. Schulz KF, Cates W, Jr., O'Mara PR. Pregnancy loss, infant death, and suffering: legacy of syphilis and gonorrhoea in Africa. Genitourinary Medicine 1987;63:320-5.
14. Hira SK, Attili VR, Bhat GJ. Early congenital syphilis (a review). Medical Journal of Zambia 1983;17:4-8.
15. Gust DA, Levine WC, St Louis ME, Braxton J, Berman SM. Mortality associated with congenital syphilis in the United States, 1992-1998. Pediatrics 2002;109:E79. Available from: http://pediatrics. aappublications.org/cgi/ content/full/109/5/e79
16. Hauptfleisch CJ, Saloojee H, Cooper P. Should symptomatic congenital syphilitics be offered ventilation? The Baragwanath experience. In: Proceedings of the 15th conference on Priorities in Perinatal Care in southern Africa, Pretoria, 1996 available from: http://www. perinatalpriorities.co.za/dbfiles/ priorities15%20-%201996(b).doc
17. McFarlin BL, Bottoms SF, Dock BS, Isada NB. Epidemic syphilis: maternal factors associated with congenital infection. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1994;170:535-40.
18. Bateman DA, Phibbs CS, Joyce T, Heagarty MC. The hospital cost of congenital syphilis. Journal of Pediatrics 1997;130:752-8.
19. Larkin JA, Lit L, Toney J, Haley JA. Recognizing and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Medscape General Medicine http://www.medscape.com/ viewarticle/408881
20. Todd J, Munguti K, Grosskurth H, Mngara J, Changalucha J, Mayaud P, et al. Risk factors for active syphilis and TPHA seroconversion in a rural African population. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2001;77:37-45.
21. Labbe AC, Mendonca AP, Alves AC, Jaffar S, Dias F, Alvarenga IC, et al. The impact of syphilis, HIV-1, and HIV-2 on pregnancy outcome in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2002;29:157-67.
22. Sheffield JS, Sanchez PJ, Morris G, Maberry M, Zeray F, McIntire DD, et al. Congenital syphilis after maternal treatment for syphilis during pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002;186:569-73.
23. Gloyd S, Chai S, Mercer MA. Antenatal syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa: missed opportunities for mortality reduction. Health Policy and Planning 2001;16:29-34.
24. Wilkinson D, Sach M, Connolly C. Epidemiology of syphilis in pregnancy in rural South Africa: opportunities for control. Tropical Medicine and International Health 1997;2:57-62.
25. Ndyomugyenyi R, Neema S, Magnussen P. The use of formal and informal services for antenatal care and malaria treatment in rural Uganda. Health Policy and Planning 1998;13:94-102.
26. Blondel B, Marshall B. Poor antenatal care in 20 French districts: risk factors and pregnancy outcome. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 1998;52:501-6.
27. Duarte G, Gir E, de Almeida AM, Hayashida M, Zanetti ML. Fetal death from syphilis: an epidemiologic evaluation in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Bulletin of the Pan American Health Organization 1994;28:42-9.
28. Kambarami RA, Chirenje MZ, Rusakaniko S. Antenatal care patterns and factors associated with perinatal outcome in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Central African Journal of Medicine 1999;45:294-9.
29. Wicher V, Wicher K. Pathogenesis of maternal-fetal syphilis revisited. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2001;33:354-63.
30. Chawla V, Pandit PB, Nkrumah FK. Congenital syphilis in the newborn. Archives of Disease in Childhood 1988;63:1393-4.
31. Singh AE, Romanowski B. Syphilis: review with emphasis on clinical, epidemiologic, and some biologic features. Clinical Microbiological Review 1999;12:187-209.
32. Brion LP, Manuli M, Rai B, Kresch MJ, Pavlov H, Glaser J. Long-bone radiographic abnormalities as a sign of active congenital syphilis in asymptomatic newborns. Pediatrics 1991;88:1037-40.
33. Stoll BJ, Lee FK, Larsen S, Hale E, Schwartz D, Rice RJ, et al. Clinical and serologic evaluation of neonates for congenital syphilis: a continuing diagnostic dilemma. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1993;167:1093-9.
34. Chang SN, Chung KY, Lee MG, Lee JB. Seroreversion of the serological tests for syphilis in the newborns born to treated syphilitic mothers. Genitourinary Medicine. 1995;71:68-70.
35. Sanchez PJ, Wendel GD, Jr, Grimprel E, Goldberg M, Hall M, Arencibia-Mireles O, et al. Evaluation of molecular methodologies and rabbit infectivity testing for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis and neonatal central nervous system invasion by Treponema pallidum. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1993;167:148-57.
36. Glaser JH. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for congenital syphilis. Journal of Pediatrics 1996;129:488-90.
37. Beeram MR, Chopde N, Dawood Y, Siriboe S, Abedin M. Lumbar puncture in the evaluation of possible asymptomatic congenital syphilis in neonates. Journal of Pediatrics 1996;128:125-9.
38. Gendrel D, Mefane C, Nardou M, Moreno JL, Engohan E, Moussavou A, et al. Serological tests in cerebrospinal fluid for congenital syphilis in central Africa. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics 1992;12:273-6.
39. Moyer VA, Schneider V, Yetman R, Garcia-Prats J, Parks D, Cooper T. Contribution of long-bone radiographs to the management of congenital syphilis in the newborn infant. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 1998;152:353-7.
40. Sanchez PJ, Wendel GD, Norgard MV. IgM antibody to Treponema pallidum in cerebrospinal fluid of infants with congenital syphilis. American Journal of Diseases of Children 1992;146:1171-5.
41. Michelow IC, Wendel GD, Jr, Norgard MV, Zeray F, Leos NK, Alsaadi R, et al. Central nervous system infection in congenital syphilis. New England Journal of Medicine 2002;346:1792-8.
42. Goh BT, van Voorst Vader PC. European guideline for the management of syphilis. International Journal of STD and AIDS 2001;12 Suppl 3:14-26.
43. World Health Organization. Guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2004. WHO document WHO/HIV-AIDS 2004.01.
44. Couper MR, Mehta DK, editors. WHO model formulary. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002.
45. Radcliffe M, Meyer M, Roditi D, Malan A. Single-dose benzathine penicillin in infants at risk of congenital syphilis - results of a randomised study. South African Medical Journal 1997;87:62-5.
46. Zenker PN, Berman SM. Congenital syphilis: trends and recommendations for evaluation and management. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal 1991;10:516-22.
47. Paryani SG, Vaughn AJ, Crosby M, Lawrence S. Treatment of asymptomatic congenital syphilis: benzathine versus procaine penicillin G therapy. Journal of Pediatrics 1994;125:471-5.
48. Pao D, Goh BT, Bingham JS. Management issues in syphilis. Drugs 2002;62:1447-61.
49. Bulatao RA, Ross JA. Rating maternal and neonatal health services in developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2002;80:721-7.
50. Mayhew S. Integrating MCH/FP and STD/HIV services: current debates and future directions. Health Policy and Planning 1996;11:339-53.
51. Patel A, Moodley D, Moodley J. An evaluation of on-site testing for syphilis. Tropical Doctor 2001;31:79-82.
52. Walker GJA. Antibiotics for syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy. Issue 1. Oxford: Update Software; 2004. (Cochrane review.)
53. Wendel GD, Jr, Sheffield JS, Hollier LM, Hill JB, Ramsey PS, Sanchez PJ. Treatment of Syphilis in pregnancy and prevention of congenital syphilis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2002;35 Suppl 2:S200-209.