Heterosexual transmission of infectious syphilis in central Scotland, 2009

Abstract

A local outbreak of infectious syphilis among heterosexual men and women was noted among residents of a National Health Services board in central Scotland in 2009. This is the first, and remains the only, such outbreak in Scotland reporting transmission in the heterosexual population. It was characterized by the young age of those infected. This highlights the need for increasing knowledge and awareness of syphilis infection among this group.

Recent outbreaks of infectious syphilis, United Kingdom, January 2012 to April 2014

“…Infectious syphilis in the UK is endemic in London, Manchester and Brighton [2,3], but outbreaks are also a feature of the UK epidemic. In the years immediately before 2012 (2009-2011) around two outbreaks of infectious syphilis were investigated per year [5][6][7][8][9]. In contrast, in 2012 to 2014, six outbreaks have been investigated simultaneously at a diverse range of locations across the UK.…”

Syphilis characteristics in Belgrade population, in period from 2009 to 2018

“…Faktori koji doprinose nastanku infekcija među ovom populacijom su promiskuitetno ponašanje, upotreba društvenih mreža i mobilnih aplikacija za brzo pronalaženje seksualnih partnera, zloupotreba droga, alkohola i psihoaktivnih supstanci, upotreba pre ekspozicione profilakse za HIV i posledično nebezbedno seksualno ponašanje, naročito nekorišćenje kondoma tokom oralnog seksa (9-12). Zabeležene su i epidemije sifilisa među heteroseksualnom populacijom, posebno kod žena u reproduktivnom periodu sa pojavom kongenitalnog sifilisa, a faktori rizika bili su seks pod uticajem alkohola i psihoaktivnih supstanci, seks za novac ili drogu i seks sa partnerima koji su pod povećanim rizikom za polno prenosive infekcije (13)(14)(15).…”

Infectious syphilis in young heterosexuals: responding to an evolving epidemic

“…11,12 In contrast, effective PN almost certainly contributed to containment of the outbreaks in Forth Valley and Greater Manchester. 9,10 It is likely that additional clusters and outbreaks occurred during the period covered by the investigations described here. A high proportion of anonymous sexual partners and/ or attendance at a variety of health-care services may restrict the identification and thus control of emerging local epidemics.…”

“…11,12 In contrast, effective PN almost certainly contributed to containment of the outbreaks in Forth Valley and Greater Manchester. 9,10…”