ABSTRACT
INTRODUCCIÓN: La sífilis es una infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) producida por el Treponema pallidum subespecie pallidum, bacteria difícil de cultivar por lo que se requieren técnicas serológicas para su diagnóstico. La aparición de nuevas pruebas treponémicas (PT) automatizadas ha supuesto un cambio en el algoritmo diagnóstico de la sífilis, el cual tradicionalmente se iniciaba con una prueba no treponémica (PNT). Presentamos 15 casos de sífilis primarias detectadas gracias a la utilización de las nuevas PT automatizadas y realizamos una revisión de las técnicas microbiológicas en el diagnóstico de la sífilis precoz. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se recogieron todos los casos de sífilis diagnosticados en nuestro servicio desde enero de 2013 hasta septiembre de 2018. Se seleccionaron los pacientes con PNT negativas, Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) en particular. RESULTADOS: De un total de 158 pacientes diagnosticados de sífilis en este periodo, 15 presentaron PNT (RPR) negativas y de estos 15, todos excepto uno presentaron PT positivas. Catorce casos eran varones, con un rango de edad desde 22 a 60 años. Además, a 8 pacientes se les realizó reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) del exudado de la úlcera, siendo en todos ellos positiva. Los 15 pacientes fueron tratados con una dosis única de penicilina G benzatina 2,4 MUI. CONCLUSIÓN: resaltamos la utilidad de las nuevas técnicas serológicas automatizadas, Chemiluminiscence Inmunoassay (CLIA) y Automated Treponema Pallidum Enzime linked Inmunoassay (EIA) y apoyamos su implantación como pruebas de screening en el diagnóstico de sífilis, dado su sensibilidad diagnóstica, su rapidez y su bajo coste
BACKGROUND: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum. As these bacteria are difficult to culture, syphilis must be diagnosed by serologic testing. The introduction of automated treponemal tests has led to changes in the traditional diagnostic algorithm for syphilis, which began with a nontreponemal test. We present 15 cases of primary syphilis detected using these new tools and review the microbiologic techniques used for the diagnosis of early syphilis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined all cases of syphilis diagnosed in our department between January 2013 and September 2018 and selected patients with negative nontreponemal (rapid plasma reagin [RPR]) tests. RESULTS: Of the 158 patients diagnosed with syphilis during the study period, 15 had a negative RPR test, and 14 of them had a positive treponemal test. Fourteen of the patients were men and ages ranged from 22 to 60 years. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect T pallidum in the lesion exudate from 8 patients and was positive in all cases. The 15 patients were treated with a single injection of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G. CONCLUSIÓN: Chemiluminescence immunoassays and T pallidum automated enzyme-linked immunoassays are useful in the diagnosis of early syphilis, and we believe that they should be adopted as screening tools given their diagnostic sensitivity, speed, and low cost
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Syphilis Serodiagnosis/methods , Syphilis/diagnosis , Syphilis Serodiagnosis , Treponema pallidum/isolation & purification , Microscopy/methods , Microbiological Techniques/methods , Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum. As these bacteria are difficult to culture, syphilis must be diagnosed by serologic testing. The introduction of automated treponemal tests has led to changes in the traditional diagnostic algorithm for syphilis, which began with a nontreponemal test. We present 15 cases of primary syphilis detected using these new tools and review the microbiologic techniques used for the diagnosis of early syphilis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined all cases of syphilis diagnosed in our department between January 2013 and September 2018 and selected patients with negative nontreponemal (rapid plasma reagin [RPR]) tests. RESULTS: Of the 158 patients diagnosed with syphilis during the study period, 15 had a negative RPR test, and 14 of them had a positive treponemal test. Fourteen of the patients were men and ages ranged from 22 to 60 years. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect T pallidum in the lesion exudate from 8 patients and was positive in all cases. The 15 patients were treated with a single injection of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G. CONCLUSION: Chemiluminescence immunoassays and T pallidum automated enzyme-linked immunoassays are useful in the diagnosis of early syphilis, and we believe that they should be adopted as screening tools given their diagnostic sensitivity, speed, and low cost.
