Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis: technical measures and effectiveness

Abstract

Abstract: China is working with the world in the great action to eliminate the congenital syphilis. By strengthening syphilis serological screening among pregnant women, standardizing the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis, and promoting sexual partner intervention, congenital syphilis and associated adverse pregnancy outcomes can be effectively prevented. Taking Shenzhen’s syphilis prevention mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) program as an example, through the establishment of an integrated medical prevention and control model and the implementation of intervention measures among pregnant women, neonatal and sexual partners, the incidence of congenital syphilis was effectively reduced from 109.31/100 000 live births in 2002 to 3.94/100 000 live births in 2016. The program had produced great economic and social benefits, and had established a typical example for preventing MTCT of syphilis in China. This study hopes the strategy for syphilis MTCT prevention can be further improved and the technical measures can be widely implemented at both national and provincial levels, so as to achieve the goal for the elimination of congenital syphilis in China.

Key words: Syphilis, Pregnant women, Congenital syphilis, Treatment, Effectiveness

WU Xiao-bing, FENG Tie-jian, YU Wei-ye1. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis: technical measures and effectiveness[J]. Electronic Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2019, 4(4): 204-208.

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