Maternal and perinatal risk factors associated with congenital syphilis.

OBJECTIVE: Mother-to-child transmission of syphilis remains an important global public health problem. Untreated intrauterine infection may result in adverse events for the fetus or newborn (NB). Maternal risk factors, such as prenatal care, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, significantly impact the likelihood of vertical transmission of syphilis. The purpose of this review is to evaluate maternal risk factors for congenital syphilis and the characteristics of exposed NB. METHODS: A total of 14 studies were evaluated, including 8 cohort studies, 4 cross-sectional and 2 control cases. A total of 12,230 women were included, with confirmed or highly probable congenital syphilis outcome, and 2285 NB. The studies evaluated risk factors for congenital syphilis, which were maternal, demographic, obstetric factors and characteristics of the exposed NB. RESULTS: Included in the risk factors studied, inadequate prenatal care and late onset, as well as inadequate or late treatment of maternal syphilis were significant risk factors for the outcome of congenital syphilis. When the time set of maternal diagnosis was correlated with neonatal infection, there was a tendency to worsen prognosis (more infected NB) in women diagnosed later in pregnancy, as well as in women who underwent few prenatal consultations and inadequate treatment. Women with recent syphilis with high VDRL titres had a higher rate of vertical transmission. The prior history of syphilis with adequate treatment was identified as a protective factor, resulting in lower rates of congenital syphilis. Among the epidemiological and demographic aspects surveyed, it was observed that young age, lower schooling, unemployment, low family income and no fixed residence were associated with higher risk of congenital syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: The association of syphilis with adverse socio-economic conditions and inadequate prenatal care suggests that the improvement of the population's living conditions and equitable access to quality health services may have an impact on the reduction of congenital syphilis.

Caracterización clínica y epidemiológica de la sífilis congénita en neonatos: Servicio Desconcentrado Hospital Pediátrico Dr. Agustín Zubillaga / Clinical and epidemiological features of congenital syphilis in neonatos: Servicio Desconcentrado Hospital Pediatrico Dr. Agustin Zubillaga

Se realizó una estudio descriptivo transversal de recolección retrospectiva de datos de 102 historias clinicas con el objetivo de describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la sífilis congénita en neonatos registrados en el Servicio Desconcentrado Hospital Pediátrico Dr. Agustín Zubillaga durante el período enero 2014 a junio 2017. Los resultados evidencian que el 52% de los neonatos eran del sexo masculino, el peso y longitud del neonato osciló entre 2501 a 4000 gramos y 46 a 55 cms, respectivamente; los neonatos pretérmino y a término tenían un tamaño adecuado; el APGAR fue normal al minuto, cinco y diez minutos. Las manifestaciones clínicas y paraclínicas más frecuentes fueron ictericia (41,2%), leucocitosis (16,7%) y periostitis (12,8%). El 78,4% de los casos presentaron VDRL no reactivo en LCR mientras que 72,5% mostraron VDRL reactivo en sangre. En conclusión, es importante aumentar el control prenatal e indicar de forma rutinaria el VDRL en sangre con la finalidad de detectar tempranamente los casos de sífilis materna y de esta manera prevenir la sífilis congénita(AU)

A descriptive, cross-sectional study, of retrospective review of data from 102 medical charts was carried out in order to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of congenital syphilis in neonates registered at the Servicio Desconcentrado Hospital Pediátrico Dr. Agustín Zubillaga during the period January 2014 to June 2017. Male sex was predominant 52%, weight and height of newborns were between 2.501 to 4.000 grams and 46 to 55 cms, respectively; preterm and term neonates were of adequate size; APGAR score was normal at one, five and ten minutes. Most common clinical and paraclinical manifestations of congenital syphilis of the neonate at birth were jaundice (41,2%), leucocitosis (16,7%) and periostitis (12,8%). 78,4% had non-reactive VDRL in cerebrospinal fluid while 72,5% had reactive VDRL in blood. In conclusion, it is important to increase prenatal control and screen for maternal syphilis in order to detect early cases and prevent congenital syphilis(AU)

Syphilis in Pregnancy.

IMPORTANCE: Since 2013, the United States has seen a rise in cases of congenital syphilis, culminating in a relative increase of 153% from 2013 to 2017 and 918 reported cases in 2017. In all, 50% to 80% of pregnant women with syphilis experience an adverse pregnancy outcome including stillbirth or spontaneous abortion. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to review the current evidence and recommendations for management of syphilis in pregnancy. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Original research articles, review articles, and guidelines on syphilis were reviewed. RESULTS: In pregnancy, routine screening for syphilis is recommended on initiation of prenatal care. In high-risk populations, repeat testing is recommended in the early third trimester and at delivery. Penicillin remains the recommended treatment in pregnancy. After treatment, nontreponemal titers should be repeated at minimum during the early third trimester and at delivery to assess for serologic response. In high-risk populations, titers should be repeated monthly. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Routine screening in pregnancy is essential for identification of syphilis infection and prevention of congenital syphilis. Subsequent adequate treatment with penicillin therapy more than 30 days before delivery and at the correct dosages depending on the stage of infection should be incorporated into clinical practice.

Signos dentales de la sífilis congénita / Dental signs of congenital syphilis

La sífilis congénita es causada por una bacteria en forma de espiroqueta denominada Treponema pallidum; se transmite de la madre infectadaaal feto. Esta enfermedad causa distintas alteraciones sistémicas, dependiendoen qué fase de la sífilis se infecta el producto. El incremento de casos a nivel mundial hace necesario el estudio de su epidemiología y que se implementen programas de salud que atiendan a la población embarazada, con seguimiento por medio del control prenatal. Se estima que 1.5 por ciento de las mujeres embarazadas a nivel mundial la padecen. Las alteraciones dentales tienen su etiología en la infl amación provocada por la espiroqueta al momento de la amelogénesis; los signos dentales característicos de la sífi lis congénita son los incisivos de Hutchinson, molares de mora y, en menor medida, los caninos de Fournier. El propósito de este trabajo es hacer una revisión de la literatura, enfatizando en las características clínicas de la enfermedad que nos permitan realizar el diagnóstico de la sífilis congénita.

Congenital syphilis is caused by a spirochete bacterium called Treponema pallidum; it is transmitted from the infected mother to the fetus. This disease causes diff erent systemic alterations, dependingon which phase of syphilis the product is infected. The increase incases worldwide makes it necessary to study its epidemiology andto implement health programs that serve the pregnant population, with follow-up through prenatal control. It is estimated that 1.5% of pregnant women world wide suff er from it. Dental alterations have theiretiology in the infl ammation caused by the spirochete at the momentof amelogenesis; the characteristic dental signs of congenital syphilisare Hutchinson incisors, blackberry molars, and, to a lesser extent, Fournier’s canines. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature, emphasizing the clinical characteristics of the disease that may allowus to diagnose congenital syphilis.

Sífilis congénita en 2 niños de una cárcel de Bolivia / Congenital syphilis in 2 children in a Bolivian prison

En el año 2013, se realizó un estudio transversal que reveló 28 casos de sífilis activa en 219 mujeres privadas de libertad (MPL) en una cárcel de Cochabamba, Bolivia. Se buscó la sífilis congénita (SC) en los niños que convivían con las madres infectadas. Resulta importante la prevención de la transmisión vertical de la sífilis mediante un despistaje sistemático de las embarazadas y el tratamiento oportuno por profesionales entrenados, dentro del ámbito carceral que representa una población clave para el control de esta enfermedad responsable de complicaciones graves (AU)

In 2013 a cross-sectional study was carried out that revealed 28 cases of active syphilis amongst female inmates in a prison of Cochabamba, Bolivia. A search was conducted for congenital syphilis amongst the children that lived with the infected mothers. It is important to note the prevention of perinatal transmission of syphilis by systematic screening of pregnant women and appropriate treatment given by trained professionals within the prison environment, which represents a key population for controlling this disease, which is responsible for causing severe complications (AU)

The Global Epidemiology of Syphilis in the Past Century - A Systematic Review Based on Antenatal Syphilis Prevalence.

BACKGROUND: How can we explain the uneven decline of syphilis around the world following the introduction of penicillin? In this paper we use antenatal syphilis prevalence (ASP) to investigate how syphilis prevalence varied worldwide in the past century, and what risk factors correlate with this variance. METHODS: 1) A systematic review using PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted to identify countries with published data relating to ASP estimates from before 1952 until the present. Eleven countries were identified (Canada, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK) and Zimbabwe). The ASP epidemic curve for each population was depicted graphically. In South Africa and the USA, results are reported separately for the black and white populations. 2) National antenatal syphilis prevalence estimates for 1990 to 1999 and 2008 were taken from an Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation database on the prevalence of syphilis in low risk populations compiled for the Global Burden of Diseases study and from a recent review paper respectively. National ASPs were depicted graphically and regional median ASPs were calculated for both time periods. 3) Linear regression was used to test for an association between ASP in 1990-1999 and 2008 and four risk factors (efficacy of syphilis screening/treatment, health expenditure, GDP per capita and circumcision prevalence). WHO world regions were included as potential explanatory variables. RESULTS: In most populations, ASP dropped to under 1% before 1960. In Zimbabwe and black South Africans, ASP was high in the pre-penicillin period, dropped in the post-penicillin period, but then plateaued at around 6% until the end of the 20th century when ASP dropped to just above 1%. In black Americans, ASP declined in the post penicillin period, but plateaued at 3-5% thereafter. ASP was statistically significantly higher in sub-Saharan Africa in 1990-1999 and 2008 than in the other world regions (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis in both time periods, ASP was only associated with residence in sub-Saharan Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is necessary to elucidate the reasons for the higher prevalence of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa.

Subsequent pregnancies in women with previous gestational syphilis.

This study included data on syphilis-positive pregnant women seen for delivery or miscarriage, between 1997 and 2004, in Sao Lucas Hospital, Porto Alegre, RS. Their subsequent obstetric outcomes were studied, until December 2011, to see if the disease recurred. From 450 pregnant women with positive syphilis serology, seen from 1997 to 2004, 166 had at least one more obstetric attendance until December 2011, with 266 new obstetric outcomes. Congenital syphilis (CS) was demonstrated in 81.9% of the initial pregnancies and in 68.4% of the subsequent ones. The main causes of CS in subsequent pregnancies were a negative VDRL that turned positive at delivery, and undocumented treatment. VDRL titers were higher than 1:4 in 50.4% of the initial and 13.3% of the subsequent pregnancies (p < 0.01). Perinatal mortality rate was 119/1000 in initial and 41/1000 in subsequent pregnancies (p < 0.01). CS recurrence was frequent in subsequent pregnancies of women who tested positive for syphilis in a preceding pregnancy. No or inadequate prenatal care was the main risk factor for CS, both in initial and in subsequent pregnancies. These data suggest that non-infected neonates could have been defined as CS cases because of insufficient information about the mother's history.

Gestações subsequentes em mulheres que tiveram sífilis na gestação / Subsequent pregnancies in women with previous gestational syphilis

ResumoEste estudo incluiu gestantes positivas para sífilis atendidas por parto ou aborto, entre 1997 e 2004, no Hospital São Lucas, Porto Alegre, RS. Foram levantados desfechos obstétricos subsequentes das mesmas, até dezembro 2011, para investigar a recorrência da doença. De 450 gestantes com sorologia positiva, atendidas de 1997 a 2004, 166 tiveram pelo menos mais um atendimento obstétrico até dezembro de 2011, sendo incluídos 266 novos desfechos obstétricos. A sífilis congênita (SC) foi evidenciada em 81,9% das gestações iniciais e em 68,4% das subsequentes. As principais causas da SC nas gestações subsequentes foram positivação do VDRL no parto e tratamento não documentado. Os títulos de VDRL foram superiores a 1:4, em 50,4% nas gestações iniciais, e em 13,3% nas subsequentes (p < 0,001). A taxa de natimortalidade foi de 119/1000, nas gestações iniciais, e de 41/1000, nas subsequentes (p < 0,01). A recorrência da SC foi frequente em gestações sucessivas da mesma paciente. A ausência ou inadequação de pré-natal foi o principal fator de risco para SC, tanto nas gestações iniciais quanto nas subsequentes. Os dados obtidos sugerem que, nas gestações subsequentes, mais neonatos não infectados podem ter sido definidos como casos de SC, pela insuficiência de informação sobre os antecedentes pré-natais da gestante.

AbstractThis study included data on syphilis-positive pregnant women seen for delivery or miscarriage, between 1997 and 2004, in Sao Lucas Hospital, Porto Alegre, RS. Their subsequent obstetric outcomes were studied, until December 2011, to see if the disease recurred. From 450 pregnant women with positive syphilis serology, seen from 1997 to 2004, 166 had at least one more obstetric attendance until December 2011, with 266 new obstetric outcomes. Congenital syphilis (CS) was demonstrated in 81.9% of the initial pregnancies and in 68.4% of the subsequent ones. The main causes of CS in subsequent pregnancies were a negative VDRL that turned positive at delivery, and undocumented treatment. VDRL titers were higher than 1:4 in 50.4% of the initial and 13.3% of the subsequent pregnancies (p < 0.01). Perinatal mortality rate was 119/1000 in initial and 41/1000 in subsequent pregnancies (p < 0.01). CS recurrence was frequent in subsequent pregnancies of women who tested positive for syphilis in a preceding pregnancy. No or inadequate prenatal care was the main risk factor for CS, both in initial and in subsequent pregnancies. These data suggest that non-infected neonates could have been defined as CS cases because of insufficient information about the mother's history.

Risk factors for congenital syphilis and adverse pregnancy outcomes in offspring of women with syphilis in Shenzhen, China: a prospective nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Despite existence of a highly effective intervention, maternal syphilis still causes substantial perinatal morbidity and mortality, even in China, where antenatal health services are strong. This study sought to address personal, programmatic, and other risk factors for congenital syphilis (CS) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) among pregnant women in Shenzhen, China. METHODS: Pregnant women attending antenatal services were offered serologic tests, and those diagnosed as having syphilis were recruited from April 2007 to October 2012. In a nested case-control study for the pregnancy outcomes of syphilis-infected women, we assessed risk factors comparing infants born with CS (group II) and with any APOs (group III) to infants without CS or APOs (group I). RESULTS: During the 66-month study period, we screened 279,334 pregnant women and identified 838 (0.3%; 95% confidence interval, 0.28%-0.32%) women infected with syphilis. Among infants born to syphilitic mothers, 8.2% (34/417) were diagnosed as having CS and 24.7% (103/417) were diagnosed as having APOs. Compared with group I, maternal baseline titers of nontreponemal antibodies (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.13), stage of syphilis (aOR, 21.56), length of time between the end of the first treatment to childbirth (aOR, 11.93), gestational week at treatment (aOR, 2.63), and fathers' cocaine use (aOR, 15.44) and syphilis infection status (aORpositive vs. negative, 5.84; aORunknown vs. negative, 5.55) were positively associated with CS, but prenatal care (aOR, 0.11) and complete treatment (aOR, 0.20) were negatively associated with CS. Maternal age (aOR, 1.43), marriage (aOR, 2.41), history of cocaine use (aOR, 3.79) and ectopic pregnancy (aOR, 5.91), baseline titers of nontreponemal antibodies (aOR, 1.30), stage of syphilis (aOR, 8.89), length of time between the end of the first treatment to childbirth (aOR, 2.52), gestational week at treatment (aOR, 1.78), and fathers' syphilis infection status (aORunknown vs. negative, 2.02) were also positively associated with APOs, but maternal history of syphilis (aOR, 0.44), prenatal care (aOR, 0.29), and complete treatment (aOR, 0.25) were negatively associated with APOs, CONCLUSIONS: Syphilis was an important cause of pregnancy loss and infant disability, particularly among women who did not receive prenatal care or had late or inadequate treatment. These study results can inform antenatal programs on the importance of early syphilis testing and prompt and appropriate treatment. Some strategies targeted at other risk factors areas may be helpful.

Antenatal syphilis screening using point-of-care testing in Sub-Saharan African countries: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Untreated syphilis in pregnancy is associated with adverse clinical outcomes for the infant. Most syphilis infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where coverage of antenatal screening for syphilis is inadequate. Recently introduced point-of-care syphilis tests have high accuracy and demonstrate potential to increase coverage of antenatal screening. However, country-specific cost-effectiveness data for these tests are limited. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of antenatal syphilis screening for 43 countries in SSA and estimate the impact of universal screening on stillbirths, neonatal deaths, congenital syphilis, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The decision analytic model reflected the perspective of the national health care system and was based on the sensitivity (86%) and specificity (99%) reported for the immunochromatographic strip (ICS) test. Clinical outcomes of infants born to syphilis-infected mothers on the end points of stillbirth, neonatal death, and congenital syphilis were obtained from published sources. Treatment was assumed to consist of three injections of benzathine penicillin. Country-specific inputs included the antenatal prevalence of syphilis, annual number of live births, proportion of women with at least one antenatal care visit, per capita gross national income, and estimated hourly nurse wages. In all 43 sub-Saharan African countries analyzed, syphilis screening is highly cost-effective, with an average cost/DALY averted of US$11 (range: US$2-US$48). Screening remains highly cost-effective even if the average prevalence falls from the current rate of 3.1% (range: 0.6%-14.0%) to 0.038% (range: 0.002%-0.113%). Universal antenatal screening of pregnant women in clinics may reduce the annual number of stillbirths by up to 64,000, neonatal deaths by up to 25,000, and annual incidence of congenital syphilis by up to 32,000, and avert up to 2.6 million DALYs at an estimated annual direct medical cost of US$20.8 million. CONCLUSIONS: Use of ICS tests for antenatal syphilis screening is highly cost-effective in SSA. Substantial reduction in DALYs can be achieved at a relatively modest budget impact. In SSA, antenatal programs should expand access to syphilis screening using the ICS test. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Congenital syphilis in Italy: a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of congenital syphilis and its risk factors in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. Data on mother-child pairs were collected for every syphilis seropositive mother. RESULTS: Maternal syphilis seroprevalence at delivery was 0.17%. 207 infants were born to 203 syphilis seropositive mothers. In 25 newborns it was possible to diagnose congenital syphilis (20/100,000 live births). Maternal risk factors included age <20 years, no antenatal care and no adequate treatment. The infected babies were more often preterm or weighed <2000 g at birth. DISCUSSION: Many syphilis seropositive mothers were foreign born but the risk of an infected newborn was not higher in foreign-born than in Italian seropositive women. The significant factors were lack of antenatal screening and inadequate maternal treatment. CONCLUSION: Syphilis is a re-emerging infection in Italy. Prevention strategies should include antenatal serological tests for all pregnant women and treatment for infected mothers.

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction triggered by group B streptococcus intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is an acute systemic event that can occur during the treatment of spirochetal infections. During pregnancy, it can cause signs and symptoms in both the mother and fetus, including fever, tachycardia, uterine contractions, and fetal heart rate pattern changes. CASE: A pregnant woman with limited prenatal care presented at 34 weeks of gestation in preterm labor with possible genital herpes. She received ampicillin for group B Streptococcus prophylaxis. Subsequently, she experienced subjective fever and late fetal heart rate decelerations prompting repeat cesarean delivery. Postpartum, her genital lesions were diagnosed as secondary syphilis, and her newborn had congenital syphilis. CONCLUSION: Beta-lactam antibiotics for group B Streptococcus intrapartum prophylaxis can trigger the Jarisch-Herxhemer reaction in patients with undiagnosed syphilis resulting in unanticipated changes in maternal and fetal well-being.

A risk model for congenital syphilis in infants born to mothers with syphilis treated in gestation: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors underlying congenital syphilis (CS) and to build a hazards model to assess the risk of CS in offspring born to mothers with syphilis treated in gestation. METHODS: This prospective study observed 554 pregnant women with syphilis and their offspring recruited from August 2002 to May 2007 in Shenzhen Centre for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention. After treatment, all the women were followed up until the diagnosis of CS in their offspring was confirmed or denied. Comparisons were made between women bearing infants with CS and women bearing infants without CS to reveal the risk factors for CS. ORs and their 95% CI were calculated for each risk factor by using logistical regression analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (5.2%) infants were diagnosed with CS. Univariable analyses showed that the reciprocal logarithm of the titre of non-treponemal antibodies in mothers (log (1/T); OR=11.18, p<0.001), gestational week (GW) at treatment (OR=1.10, p<0.001) and the interaction between these two variates (OR=1.09, p<0.001) was associated with CS. Multivariable analysis showed that only the interaction was significantly associated with CS (OR=1.09, p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of CS could be predicted by the interaction between GW x log (1/T). Early treatment given to women with syphilis during antenatal care may be the only effective method to decrease the risk of CS.

The elimination of congenital syphilis: a comparison of the proposed World Health Organization action plan for the elimination of congenital syphilis with existing national maternal and congenital syphilis policies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Building upon a critical assessment of national policies, programs, and treatment options, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently developed an action plan for the elimination of congenital syphilis (CS). The objective of the review was to identify areas of commonality or divergence between the national strategies and the WHO plan, thereby helping to target the development of national-level policies in light of the forthcoming recommendations of the proposed WHO action plan to eliminate CS. STUDY DESIGN: The 4 strategic pillars of the proposed WHO action plan were used as a comparative framework to examine the policy, programmatic, and monitoring components of a sample of 14 existing national-level congenital or maternal control policies. The countries were chosen to represent a range of resource and prevalence levels. RESULTS: The majority of countries do not meet every element proposed in the WHO action plan. Political commitment (pillar 1) across the 14 countries is varied. CS elimination goals were rare but all had universal screening. Linkages to appropriate case management services were identified in 11 countries, although a national governing body was not generally evident. Efforts to increase and improve access to care (pillar 2) were noted in 8 countries with recommendations to ensure all pregnant women were screened and treated. Low-resource settings have formed international partnerships. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pregnant women and partners (pillar 3) found in high-resource settings were lacking in low-resource and high CS prevalence countries. Surveillance programs were active in 10 countries while comprehensive details on monitoring and evaluation (pillar 4) components including proxy CS indicators were unavailable for nearly all. CONCLUSIONS: The elimination of CS can be achieved through the implementation of a series of proven measures but requires technical support, funding, and a commitment among political forces, health officials, and the public to prevent and treat all CS cases and help countries reach their Millennium Development Goals. Stronger partnerships with clearly defined responsibilities should be developed among agencies responsible for national STI control, HIV/AIDS control, and Making Pregnancy Safer initiatives to ensure the universal coverage of CS control interventions.

Occurrence of congenital syphilis after maternal treatment with azithromycin during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of azithromycin in preventing congenital syphilis. METHOD: Five pregnant women with syphilis who were allergic to penicillin were given azithromycin, 1 g daily orally or intravenously, in different hospitals. The duration of the therapy ranged from 1 day to 10 days. A second course of therapy was provided at 28 weeks gestation. The babies were given a physical examination and blood test for serum rapid plasma reagin test (RPR), treponema pallidum hemagglutination test (TPHA), and fluorescent treponemal antibody adsorption test (FTA-ABS-19-sIgM) within three months after birth. RESULTS: Five infants born to these mothers developed skin rashes. Four of the infants had hepatomegaly and one showed osteochondritis. The tests RPR, TPHA, and FTA-ABS-19-sIgM were positive. The RPR titers varied from 1:64 to 1:256 and the babies were diagnosed with congenital syphilis. They were successfully treated with penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Successful therapy for syphilis during pregnancy demands maternal care as well as prevention or cure of congenital infection. The failure of azithromycin in preventing congenital syphilis in our report suggests that azithromycin should not be recommended as an alternative in treating syphilitic pregnant women or fetal syphilis.

[Congenital syphilis despite prenatal screening? An evaluation of 14 cases]. / Konnatale Syphilis trotz Mutterschaftsvorsorge? Eine Evaluierung von 14 Fällen.

BACKGROUND: Congenital syphilis (CS) can be effectively avoided by adequate treatment of the mother during pregnancy. Nevertheless, in recent years, the Robert Koch Institute has reported 6-8 of CS cases per year. The aim of this study was to investigate cases of CS with regard to obstetrical history and results of maternal syphilis serology during pregnancy and postpartum. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2001, a total of 14 cases of CS were diagnosed after birth in the Stuttgart laboratory. Information on clinical and serological data obtained during prenatal care and at birth had been provided by the treating gynaecologists and paediatricians. Furthermore, serum samples from 11 of the 14 mothers were investigated at the Stuttgart laboratory after birth and also retrospectively at the Herford laboratory. RESULTS: All mothers presented without clinical signs of syphilis. Delayed prenatal care was observed in 6 out of 14 cases. Eleven of the 14 mothers had a positive treponemal screening test. Treatment was initiated only in two of them. During pregnancy treponemal IgM and cardiolipin antibodies were detected in none of 9 and in 5 of 8 sera of untreated mothers, respectively. In contrast, maternal serum samples investigated after birth were all positive for cardiolipin antibodies and 7 of 10 serum samples were positive for TP IgM antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed or absent prenatal care and misinterpretation of syphilis serology (or laboratory failures) in the presence of latent syphilis are mostly responsible for the inadequate management of syphilis during pregnancy and thus the occurrence of CS.