Increase in congenital syphilis in a tertiary-care centre from Madrid, Spain: Back to the classics

Int J STD AIDS. 2024 Oct;35(11):916-918. doi: 10.1177/09564624241264581. Epub 2024 Jul 22.

Abstract

Globally, an increase in sexually transmitted diseases worldwide has been reported, including acquired Treponema pallidum infection. Congenital syphilis is the mother-to-child transmission syphilis infection, experiencing an increase in cases returning to incidence rates of years ago. We report three cases of symptomatic congenital syphilis occurring in a tertiary-care hospital in Madrid (Spain). Cases were diagnosed by serology and molecular biology methods. The use of molecular techniques in specimens such as skin lesion, subplacental exudate swabs, bronchoalveolar aspirate, or cerebrospinal fluid could favour the diagnosis of this clinical entity, especially in symptomatic newborns with systemic involvement.

Keywords: Seegene; Treponema pallidum; congenital; newborn; pregnant; sexually transmitted infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Syphilis Serodiagnosis
  • Syphilis, Congenital* / diagnosis
  • Syphilis, Congenital* / epidemiology
  • Tertiary Care Centers*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Treponema pallidum* / immunology
  • Treponema pallidum* / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents