Congenital syphilis confirmed by pcr as a result of treatment failure for syphilis in pregnancy. case report

ABSTRACT Introduction: Congenital syphilis is a major public health problem, and early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent it. Penicillin G benzathine is the treatment of choice in pregnant women; however, it may fail to prevent fetal infection, as in the present case. Case presentation: Male newborn, son of an HIV negative mother with gestational syphilis (venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) 1:4 dilution, positive treponemal test) diagnosed at week 21 of gestation and treated with three doses of 2 400 000 IU of penicillin G benzathine. At delivery, the mother presented VDRL 1:1 dilution. The newborn was diagnosed with congenital syphilis due to VDRL 1:4 dilution, positive treponemal test, elevated aspartate aminotransferases, hypos-thenuria, proteinuria, hematuria, and leukocyturia that resolved after treatment with crystalline penicillin for 10 days. The molecular testing in blood showed a high treponemal load. The VDRL test at 3 months was non-reactive. Conclusions: Preventing congenital syphilis with the recommended treatment for gestational syphilis may fail. Moreover, diagnosing this condition in an asymptomatic newborn is difficult. Therefore, clinical and serological tests are recommended to confirm whether maternal treatment was effective in the fetus.

RESUMEN Introducción. La sífilis congénita es un importante problema de salud pública y para prevenirla es necesario diagnosticar y tratar la sífilis gestacional de forma temprana. En el presente caso la gestante recibió el tratamiento de elección (penicilina benzatínica), pero este no previno la infección fetal. Presentación del caso. Recién nacido masculino, hijo de una madre con serología negativa para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana y positiva para sífilis gestacional diagnosticada en la semana 21 (prueba VDRL con dilución 1:4 y prueba treponémica rápida positiva) y tratada con tres dosis de 2 400 000 UI de penicilina benzatínica. En el parto, la madre presentó VDRL con dilución 1:1 y el recién nacido fue diagnosticado con sífilis congénita por presentar VDRL con dilución 1:4, prueba treponémica rápida positiva, niveles de aspartato aminotransferasa elevados, hipostenuria, proteinuria, hematuria y leucocituria, condiciones que se resolvieron luego de recibir tratamiento con penicilina cristalina durante 10 días. El estudio molecular en sangre realizado al momento del nacimiento evidenció una alta presencia de Treponema pallidum. La prueba VDRL a los 3 meses fue no reactiva. Conclusiones. Prevenir la sífilis congénita con el tratamiento recomendado para sífilis gestacional puede fallar, además, diagnosticar sífilis congénita en un recién nacido asintomático es difícil, por lo cual se recomienda hacer un seguimiento clínico y serológico para confirmar si el tratamiento materno fue efectivo en el feto.

Effect of benzathine penicillin combined with ceftriaxone on the results of rapid plasma reagin circle card test/toluidine red unheated serum test in the treatment of early syphilis: a meta-analysis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To systematically evaluate the efficacy of benzathine penicillin combined with ceftriaxone on the negative conversion rate of the rapid plasma reagin circle card test/toluidine red unheated serum test (RPR/TRUST) in the treatment of early syphilis.Methods:According to the search strategy, online databases (PubMed, Web of science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP) were searched for case-control studies on benzathine penicillin combined with ceftriaxone in the treatment of early syphilis. The Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included articles, and the RevMan5.3 software to analyze the negative conversion rate of RPR/TRUST.Results:A total of 14 case-control studies were included, including 1 160 syphilis patients (585 in the combination treatment group and 575 in the benzathine penicillin alone group) . According to the meta-analysis, the negative conversion rate of serum RPR/TRUST was significantly higher in the combination treatment group than in the benzathine penicillin alone group ( OR=3.70, 95% CI[2.71, 5.06], P<0.001) . Subgroup analysis based on the follow-up duration, the negative conversion rate of serum RPR/TRUST was also significantly higher in the combination treatment group than in the benzathine penicillin alone group after 3-month ( OR=3.68, 95% CI [2.26, 5.98], P<0.001) , 6-month ( OR=3.11, 95% CI[2.26, 4.27], P<0.001) and 12-month treatment ( OR=4.35, 95% CI[2.81, 6.73], P<0.001) . Conclusion:Compared with benzathine penicillin, benzathine penicillin combined with ceftriaxone can more effectively promote serum RPR/TRUST to turn negative in the treatment of early syphilis.

Who was affected by the shortage of penicillin for syphilis in Rio de Janeiro, 2013-2017? / A quem afetou o desabastecimento de penicilina para sífilis no Rio de Janeiro, 2013-2017?

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze the shortage of benzathine penicillin G (BPG), characterizing its temporal evolution and spatial distribution in the city of Rio de Janeiro from 2013 to 2017. METHODS This ecological study used gestational and congenital syphilis notifications, BPG distribution records, and sociodemographic data from the population of Rio de Janeiro. To quantify the shortage, a BPG supply indicator was estimated per quarter for each neighborhood between 2013 and 2017. Thematic maps were created to identify areas and periods with greater BPG shortage, described according to sociodemographic factors, health services network, and epidemiological features in the incidence of syphilis. RESULTS BPG shortage in Rio de Janeiro from 2013 to 2017 was not homogeneous in space nor in time. The temporal evolution and spatial distribution of BPG scarcity shows that the shortage affected the inhabitants of the municipality in different ways. Shortage was lower in 2013 and 2016 and more severe in 2014, 2015, and 2017, particularly in neighborhoods within the programmatic areas PA3 and PA5, poorer and with higher prevalence rates of gestational and congenital syphilis. CONCLUSIONS Analyzing BPG shortage and its temporal evolution and spatial distribution in Rio de Janeiro allowed us to realize that the inhabitants are affected in different ways. Understanding this process contributes to the planning of actions to face shortage crises, minimizing possible impacts on the management of syphilis and reducing inequality in access to treatment.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Analisar o desabastecimento da penicilina benzatina (PB), caracterizando sua evolução temporal e distribuição espacial no município do Rio de Janeiro de 2013 a 2017. MÉTODOS Trata-se de estudo ecológico misto realizado com notificações de sífilis gestacional e congênita, registros de distribuição de PB e de dados sociodemográficos da população dos bairros do município do Rio de Janeiro. Para mensurar o desabastecimento foi calculado por trimestre um indicador de abastecimento de PB para cada bairro, entre 2013 e 2017. Mapas temáticos foram produzidos para identificar áreas e períodos com maior desabastecimento de PB, o qual foi descrito segundo condições sociodemográficas, rede de serviços de saúde e aspectos epidemiológicos da incidência de sífilis por bairro. RESULTADOS O desabastecimento de PB no município do Rio de Janeiro, no período de 2013 a 2017, não foi homogêneo no espaço ou no tempo. A evolução temporal e a distribuição espacial da escassez de PB revelam que o desabastecimento afetou de formas distintas os habitantes do município, sendo menor em 2013 e 2016 e mais intenso em 2014, 2015 e 2017, principalmente nos bairros das áreas programáticas AP3 e AP5, mais pobres e com maiores taxas de sífilis gestacional e congênita. CONCLUSÕES Analisar o desabastecimento de PB e sua evolução temporal e distribuição espacial no município do Rio de Janeiro permitiu reconhecer que os habitantes do município são afetados de diferentes modos. Compreender esse processo ajuda a planejar ações para enfrentar crises de desabastecimento, minimizando possíveis impactos no controle da sífilis, além de reduzir a desigualdade no acesso ao tratamento.

Influences of improved intramuscular injection on quality of benzathine benzylpenicillin medication / 中华护理杂志

Objective To explore influences of improved intramuscular injection on quality of benzathine benzylpenicillin medication.Methods The cluster random sampling was adopted to select 178 patients who needed injection of 240U benzathine benzylpenicillin.A self-control study design was used,and benzathine benzylpenicillin was injected in both sides with each of 1 200 000 units.The left side was injected via routine method,while the right side was injected by an improved intramuscular injection.One-time success rate,degree and duration of pain during and after injection were recorded.Results The differences of one-time success rate,pain during injection,pain after injection,duration of pain after injection and incidence of induration after injection between two groups were statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion The improved intramuscular injection can improve one-time success rate of benzathine benzylpenicillin,reduce pain during injection and local pain after injection,shorten duration of pain and decrease incidence of induration after injection.

Diagnosis and Management of Genital Ulcers.

Herpes simplex virus infection and syphilis are the most common causes of genital ulcers in the United States. Other infectious causes include chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, granuloma inguinale (donovanosis), secondary bacterial infections, and fungi. Noninfectious etiologies, including sexual trauma, psoriasis, Behçet syndrome, and fixed drug eruptions, can also lead to genital ulcers. Although initial treatment of genital ulcers is generally based on clinical presentation, the following tests should be considered in all patients: serologic tests for syphilis and darkfield microscopy or direct fluorescent antibody testing for Treponema pallidum, culture or polymerase chain reaction test for herpes simplex virus, and culture for Haemophilus ducreyi in settings with a high prevalence of chancroid. No pathogen is identified in up to 25 percent of patients with genital ulcers. The first episode of herpes simplex virus infection is usually treated with seven to 10 days of oral acyclovir (five days for recurrent episodes). Famciclovir and valacyclovir are alternative therapies. One dose of intramuscular penicillin G benzathine is recommended to treat genital ulcers caused by primary syphilis. Treatment options for chancroid include a single dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone or oral azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, or erythromycin. Lymphogranuloma venereum and donovanosis are treated with 21 days of oral doxycycline. Treatment of noninfectious causes of genital ulcers varies by etiology, and ranges from topical wound care for ulcers caused by sexual trauma to consideration of subcutaneous pegylated interferon alfa-2a for ulcers caused by Behçet syndrome.