Congenital syphilis investigation processes and timing in Louisiana.
Sex Transm Dis
; 41(9): 560-3, 2014 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25118972
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Congenital syphilis (CS) is a potentially life-threatening yet preventable infection. State and local public health jurisdictions conduct investigations of possible CS cases to determine case status and to inform public health prevention efforts. These investigations occur when jurisdictions receive positive syphilis test results from pregnant women or from infants.METHODS:
We extracted data from Louisiana's electronic case management system for 328 infants investigated as possible CS cases in 2010 to 2011. Using date stamps from the case management system, we described CS investigations in terms of processes and timing.RESULTS:
Eighty-seven investigations were prompted by positive test results from women who were known to be pregnant by the health jurisdiction, and 241 investigations were prompted by positive syphilis test results from infants. Overall, investigations required a median of 101 days to complete, although 25% were complete within 36 days. Investigations prompted by positive test results from infants required a median of 135 days to complete, and those prompted by positive test results from pregnant women required a median of 41 days.CONCLUSIONS:
Three times as many CS investigations began with reported positive syphilis test results from infants as from pregnant women, and these investigations required more time to complete. When CS investigations begin after an infant's birth, the opportunity to ensure that women are treated during pregnancy is missed, and surveillance data cannot inform prevention efforts on a timely basis. Consistently ascertaining pregnancy status among women whose positive syphilis test results are reported to public health jurisdictions could help to assure timely CS prevention efforts.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez
/
Diagnóstico Pré-Natal
/
Sífilis Congênita
/
Saúde Pública
/
Avaliação de Processos em Cuidados de Saúde
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
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Male
/
Newborn
/
Pregnancy
País como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article