Current Perspectives on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Syphilis

Abstract

This article aims to provide an update on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis by drawing upon some important basic concepts and reviewing the most recent literature on the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis in pregnancy. New technologies, such as automated and point-of-care immunologic tests, are shifting some paradigms, which will certainly be further investigated in the forthcoming years. This is the time to carefully evaluate traditional as well as new strategies to prevent congenital syphilis. Adverse outcomes of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis can be prevented with antenatal screening and penicillin therapy, which proved to have an excellent cost-benefit ratio even in populations with a low prevalence of syphilis. However, syphilis epidemiology is influenced by socioeconomic and cultural factors, and major challenges are faced by poor and developing countries in which the severity of the problem is extremely alarming. On the other hand, the emergence of new technologies has raised doubts about the best algorithm to be used when proper laboratory resources are available. Conditions are quite heterogeneous across populations, and some procedures should not be generalized while there is no evidence that supports some changes and while in-depth studies about local conditions are not conducted. Official organizations need to be alert in order to avoid isolated decisions and ensure that evidence-based guidelines be used in the management of syphilis in pregnancy.

Syphilis ascendant: a brief history and modern trends

“…Access to reliable and high-quality prenatal care is paramount along with partner testing—especially when we consider how grave an impact congenital syphilis has on the course of an individual’s life. Attention should be given to proper care with syphilis screening occurring at entry into prenatal care and, in high risk mothers and/or high prevalence settings, at the 28 th week of gestation and at the time of delivery [3, 17]. The time for action is at hand, and with luck, we will see a return of historically low incidences of syphilis throughout the world.…”

A rare presentation of congenital syphilis: Pemphigus syphiliticus in a newborn infant with extensive desquamation of the extremities

“…Congenital syphilis can be prevented by early detection of maternal infection and treatment with benzathine penicillin G . Untreated syphilis during pregnancy can result in neonatal death or debilitating infant disorders such as deafness, neurologic impairment, and bone deformities.…”

Knowledge Management Framework for Integrating Biomedicine Into the New Product Development

“…Sifiliu serganti motina gali perduoti infekciją vaisiui ir tai gali komplikuotis spontaniniu abortu, priešlaikiniu gimdymu, paveldimo sifilio klinikiniu pasireiškimu [11]. Persistuojanti ŽPV infekcija gali sukelti gimdos kaklelio vėžį [13].…”