Antenatal screenings and maternal diagnosis among pregnant women in Sao Tome & Principe—Missed opportunities to improve neonatal health: A hospital-based study
Alexandra VasconcelosSwasilanne SousaNelson BandeiraMarta AlvesAna Luísa PapoilaFilomena PereiraMaria do Céu Machado
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Newborn mortality and adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) in Sao Tome & Príncipe (STP) are overwhelmingly high, and access to quality-antenatal care (ANC) is one of the strategies to tackle it. This study aimed to fill the gaps in ANC screenings with a focus on how to improve neonatal outcomes. We conducted a retrospective hospital-based study in which ANC pregnancy cards were reviewed. Screenings were described and compared according to the total number of ANC contacts: 1-3 (inadequate), 4-7 (adequate), and ≥8 (complete). The collected data were entered into QuickTapSurvey and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Statistical significance was considered at a p-value ≤0.05. A total of 511 ANC pregnancy cards were reviewed. Mothers' mean age was 26.6 (SD = 7.1), 51.7% had a first trimester early booking, 14.9% (76) had 1-3 ANC contacts, 46.4% (237) had 4-7 and 38.7% (198) ≥8. Screening absence was found in 24%-41%, lack of money was registered in 36%. Pregnant women had no screening performed for HIV in 4.5%, syphilis in 8.8%, HBV 39.3%, malaria 25.8%, hemoglobin 24.5%, blood glucose 45.4%, urine 29.7%, stool exams 27.8% and 41.1% had no ultrasound. Screening completion for blood group, HIV, malaria, urine, hemoglobin, and coproparasitological exam were found to have a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) for the complete ANC group when compared to other groups. Antenatal problems identified were: 1) bacteriuria (43.2%); 2) maternal anemia (37%); 3) intestinal parasitic infections (59.2%); 4) sickle cell solubility test positive (13%); and 5) a RhD-negative phenotype (5.8%). Missed-ANC treatments were up to 50%. This study reveals a coverage-quality gap in STP since no pregnant woman is left without ANC contact, although most still miss evidence-based screenings with an impact on neonatal outcomes. Strategies such as implementing a total free ANC screening package in STP would enhance maternal diagnosis and prompt treatments.Persons with multiple syphilis reinfections may play an important role in syphilis transmission. We analysed all syphilis tests carried out for people attending the HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, from 1992 to 2012 to evaluate the extent to which syphilis reinfections were contributing to the syphilis epidemic in Antwerp. We then characterised the features of the syphilis infections in individuals with five or more episodes of syphilis. A total of 729 syphilis episodes were diagnosed in 454 persons. The majority of syphilis episodes occurred in people who had more than one episode of syphilis (445/729; 61%). A total of 10 individuals had five or more episodes of syphilis diagnosed over this period. All were men who have sex with men, HIV positive and on antiretroviral therapy. They had a total of 52 episodes of syphilis diagnosed and treated. In 38/42 of the episodes of repeat syphilis in these 10 individuals, they presented without any signs or symptoms of syphilis. Given that the majority of cases of incident syphilis in our clinic were persons with reinfections and that they frequently presented without signs of symptoms of syphilis, there is a strong case for frequent and repeated screening in all persons with a diagnosis of syphilis.
Primary Syphilis
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OBJECTIVE To investigate the current situation and epidemiological features of syphilis among inpatients in our hospital since 2003.METHODS This study was retrospective.The data were obtained from the inpatients′ files from Jan 2003 to May 2006,All patients with syphilis were analyzed with epidemiological methods.RESULTS Of the 127 586 inpatients screened for syphilis,740(0.58%) were positive,in which 13 were congenital syphilis,371 were latent syphilis and 356 were dominant syphilis.The yearly syphilis positive rate steadily increased,especially the proportion of latent syphilis,being higher among male(0.70%) than female(0.49%)(OR=1.47).The syphilis positive rate of the elder was higher than that of the younger.The syphilis occurred in all departments and all age groups.CONCLUSIONS There is a need for a routine syphilis screening among all inpatients in order to prevent the misdiagnosis of syphilis among them,especially for the latent syphilis.This could be benefit for the latent syphilis patients to get treatment earlier and minimize the spreading of syphilis.
Latent Syphilis
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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum (T. Palladium). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, decreased the number of CD4 cells that makes the immune system decrease, and facilitates syphilis infection. Syphilis increased the risk of spreading HIV infection with skin barrier destruction. The diagnosis of syphilis is made based on a complete history, including sexual history, clinical manifestations, and examination. The treatment of syphilis with HIV and without HIV similar, penicillin is still the gold standard for syphilis treatment with HIV. Prevention of syphilis with HIV are educated, screening for syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as early detection and therapy of partners. The prognosis for syphilis in HIV is worse than for syphilis without HIV.
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Syphilis Serodiagnosis
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The incidence of syphilis in Denmark has changed within the last ten years. From being a relatively common disease at the end of the 1970's and beginning of the 1980's, the incidence has fallen considerably. It is assumed that the change is connected with the emergence of AIDS and the resulting increase in information and attention to sexually transmitted diseases. In the USA, after a fall in the beginning of the 1980's, the incidence of syphilis has risen markedly, particularly among heterosexual coloured people in large cities. Recently, there have been some reports claiming atypical syphilis in patients with HIV-infection. To date there are no controlled investigations to corroborate this notion. Seronegative syphilis or delayed seropositivity has been reported in certain immunosuppressed AIDS patients. Otherwise the syphilis serology of HIV-infected patients does not seem to differ essentially from HIV-negative patients. All patients with HIV infection should be counselled about syphilis and offered a test for syphilis, just as patients with syphilis should be encouraged to be tested for HIV antibody after informed consent.
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Syphilis, which had been uncommon in Australian cities until recently, has re-emerged as a major sexually transmissible infection among men who have sex with men.In this article we review the clinical features and management of syphilis infection, together with measures clinicians can undertake to enhance syphilis control.Syphilis should be considered in men who have sex with men who present with a rash or anogenital lesions. Men who have sex with men should be serologically screened for syphilis on a regular basis, including those who are HIV infected. Management of syphilis infected individuals should include adequate treatment and efforts to maximise the testing and treatment of sexual partners. Early detection and treatment of syphilis will help control the current syphilis epidemic in Australia among men who have sex with men.
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In Japan, the incidence of syphilis has decreased, and clinicians might be more likely to overlook syphilis than before. We show typical clinical manifestations and treatment of syphilis for clinicians unfamiliar with the disease and emphasize that two types of serologic test, non treponemal tests and specific treponemal tests, are essential for diagnosis of syphilis. Recent automated serologic tests for syphilis are useful to examine patients' progress after they are treated. The early stage of syphilis is gradually spreading among men in Japan, and HIV coinfections are often caused by homosexual contacts. We present a sample figure in the classic medical book, "Atlas of syphilis and the venereal diseases".
Early syphilis
Neurosyphilis
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To assess the accuracy of on-site rapid treponemal test for syphilis diagnosis in women deprived of liberty in Bolivia.Serological tests for syphilis were performed on 219 women deprived of liberty from the San Sebastián prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Syphilis was diagnosed using RPR (bioMérieux) and TPPA (Fujirebio) serological tests, and the results were compared to on-site rapid treponemal test (Alere DetermineTM Syphilis TP) in whole blood. Diagnostic performance of two FTA tests were also compared (bioMérieux and Biocientífica).All participants (28) with RPR+/TPPA+ had the rapid syphilis test positive (sensitivity 100%). Eleven participants had rapid syphilis test positive without RPR and TPPA both positive; nevertheless 7 of them had RPR or TPPA positive. Of 33 participants with FTA-bioMérieux positive, 22 (66.6%) had FTA-Biocientífica positive.The rapid syphilis test Determine shows excellent performance as a screening tool among women deprived of liberty affected by high prevalence of syphilis. This test is particularly indicated when there are barriers for access to conventional serological tests. It is inexpensive, easy to use and does not require electricity and laboratory infrastructure. The FTA test performed with reagents from Biocientífica had a suboptimal sensitivity.
Syphilis Serodiagnosis
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cases of syphilis registered in our clinic are reported.Out of the 107 cases,primary syphilis accounted for 41 12%(44/107),secondary syphilis 34 58%(37/107) and early latent syphilis 24 30%(26/107).An analysis about sex,clincal features,laboratory test as well as treatment of syphilis in different stage are also made.The author consider that to realise the clinical features of different stage have significance in syphilis control.
Latent Syphilis
Primary Syphilis
Early syphilis
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