Antenatal screening for syphilis

BMJ 1998;317:1605-1606 ( 12 December )

Editorials

Antenatal screening for syphilis

Still important in preventing disease

Papers p 1617

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Much congenital infection is now preventable. Antenatal screening is an important measure in reducing vertical transmissionof syphilis, hepatitis B, and HIV, as effective interventionsare available but their delivery depends on identifying infectedwomen. Maternal syphilis is readily treatable with parenteralpenicillin, which prevents the sequelae of miscarriage, stillbirth,neonatal death, and congenital infection $---$ with its long term morbidityof learning difficulties, interstitial keratitis, and neuraldeafness.

Syphilis is now uncommon in the United Kingdom. In 1996 only 91 cases of women with early, potentially transmissible infectionwere reported by genitourinary medicine clinics in England.¹Congenital syphilis is even rarer, and many paediatricians havenever seen an infected child. Nevertheless, syphilis is currentlythe only chronic infection for which women are routinely screenedduring pregnancy (M L Newell et al, unpublisheddata).

In view of this perceived rarity, and the absence of formalised national policy, some units are considering discontinuingscreening. . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Syphilis in pregnant women and their children in the United Kingdom: results from national clinician reporting surveys 1994-7: A-K Hurtig, A Nicoll, C Carne, T Lissauer, N Connor, J P Webster, and L Ratcliffe
BMJ 1998 317: 1617-1619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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