Treatment evaluation to improve preventing mother to child transmission among women with syphilis

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 20;9(1):19547. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-56095-6.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of preventing mother to child syphilis transmission to improve pregnancy outcomes. We performed a retrospective analysis of municipal databases of mother-to-child syphilis transmission. Pregnant women with syphilis were included. Group specific pregnancy outcomes were analyzed according to treatment. A total of 28 pregnant women were diagnosed with syphilis in 2012; 321 were diagnosed with syphilis in 2018. A prevalence of 0.14% was observed amongst pregnant women in Suzhou city from 2012-2018. Primary treatments included benzathine penicillin, ceftriaxone sodium or erythromycin when patients were allergic to Benzathine penicillin. The treatment coverage was 81.57%, and only 52.86% of pregnant women were adequately treated. Adverse pregnant outcomes were higher amongst untreated women. Expanding early screening coverage and promoting treatment were key to improving pregnancy outcomes amongst women with syphilis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use
  • Erythromycin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Middle Aged
  • Penicillin G Benzathine / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Prenatal Care
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Syphilis / prevention & control*
  • Syphilis / transmission*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Erythromycin
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Penicillin G Benzathine