Failure to recognize Low non-treponemal titer syphilis infections in pregnancy May lead to widespread under-treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Rates of maternal syphilis have increased five-fold in Brazil in the past decade. While penicillin remains the only appropriate treatment for maternal syphilis, we hypothesized that low non-treponemal titers (<1:16) may lead to reduced penicillin treatment in Brazil.

Methods

Using Brazilian Ministry of Health data on women diagnosed with maternal syphilis between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018, we conducted a random-effects logistic regression model with a cluster correction at the state level to evaluate predictive factors of penicillin treatment.

Results

We observed yearly increases in cases of pregnant women with syphilis from 2010 to 2018. There was significant variation by state: 52,451 cases were reported in São Paulo, followed by 26,838 in Ri

SUBMITTER: Swayze EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8012229 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature