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The resurgence of syphilis: New USPSTF screening recommendations
Syphilis is on the rise, particularly among men who have sex with men. But one racial group is also at high risk. Here’s what the new USPSTF...
Serologic tests are divided into 2 groups: treponemal (specific) and nontreponemal (nonspecific) tests. Treponemal tests, which include TPPA, T pallidum hemagglutination assays, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, will yield a positive result for current or previously treated syphilis because a positive result remains so for life. Nontreponemal tests, such as the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test and the venereal disease reference laboratory (VDRL) test, yield a titer that is a measure of disease activity (the titer drops with treatment and rises with reinfection). Because these are nonspecific tests, biological false positives may occur if the patient has other acute or chronic infections or autoimmune diseases.5
Treat with penicillin
The first-choice treatment for uncomplicated syphilis is a single dose of intramuscular (IM) penicillin G (2.4 million units). A single dose of oral azithromycin 2 g or doxycycline 100 mg orally twice a day for 14 days can be used for patients who are allergic to penicillin.5-7 Ceftriaxone, either IM or intravenous 1 g/d for 10 to 14 days, is also effective.
Our patient declined parenteral treatment, so he was treated with oral azithromycin 2 g in a single dose. His RPR titer was taken again one week after completing the azithromycin, at which time there was a 4-fold drop (1:32 to 1:8), indicating a good response to therapy. At a follow-up appointment 6 months later, the infection hadn’t recurred. We also educated the patient on the nature of the infection, how he became infected, and safe-sex practices to prevent reinfection.
CORRESPONDENCE
Husein Husein-ElAhmed, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Baza, Avda Murcia s/n, CP: 18800, Granada, Spain; huseinelahmed@hotmail.com.