Ineffective penicillin treatment and absence of partner treatment may drive the congenital syphilis epidemic in Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reducing congenital syphilis has been the focus of Brazilian health programs for decades, yet the cases continue to increase. Although health interventions have targeted HIV screening and treatment, syphilis management continues to be challenging. Syphilis during pregnancy may enhance the HIV maternal seroconversion risk. The potential factors fueling the syphilis epidemic were evaluated in south Brazil, an area of high HIV or syphilis endemicity.

Objective

We hypothesized that ineffective treatment because of a lack of partner treatment, late presentation to care, and reinfection of previously treated mothers were potential drivers of syphilis mother-to-child transmission.

Study design

Data on women diagnosed with syphilis during pregnancy between January

SUBMITTER: Swayze EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9451022 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature