OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of congenital syphilis and its risk factors in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. Data on mother-child pairs were collected for every syphilis seropositive mother. RESULTS: Maternal syphilis seroprevalence at delivery was 0.17%. 207 infants were born to 203 syphilis seropositive mothers. In 25 newborns it was possible to diagnose congenital syphilis (20/100,000 live births). Maternal risk factors included age <20 years, no antenatal care and no adequate treatment. The infected babies were more often preterm or weighed <2000 g at birth. DISCUSSION: Many syphilis seropositive mothers were foreign born but the risk of an infected newborn was not higher in foreign-born than in Italian seropositive women. The significant factors were lack of antenatal screening and inadequate maternal treatment. CONCLUSION: Syphilis is a re-emerging infection in Italy. Prevention strategies should include antenatal serological tests for all pregnant women and treatment for infected mothers.
Tridapalli, E., Capretti, M., Reggiani, M., Stronati, M., Faldella, G., Valentini, P., Italian Neonatal Task Force For The Italian Society Of, N., Congenital syphilis in Italy: a multicentre study, <<ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD. FETAL AND NEONATAL EDITION>>, 2010; 97 (3): F211-F2013. [doi:10.1136/adc.2010.183863] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/33006]
Congenital syphilis in Italy: a multicentre study
Valentini, Piero;
2010
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of congenital syphilis and its risk factors in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. Data on mother-child pairs were collected for every syphilis seropositive mother. RESULTS: Maternal syphilis seroprevalence at delivery was 0.17%. 207 infants were born to 203 syphilis seropositive mothers. In 25 newborns it was possible to diagnose congenital syphilis (20/100,000 live births). Maternal risk factors included age <20 years, no antenatal care and no adequate treatment. The infected babies were more often preterm or weighed <2000 g at birth. DISCUSSION: Many syphilis seropositive mothers were foreign born but the risk of an infected newborn was not higher in foreign-born than in Italian seropositive women. The significant factors were lack of antenatal screening and inadequate maternal treatment. CONCLUSION: Syphilis is a re-emerging infection in Italy. Prevention strategies should include antenatal serological tests for all pregnant women and treatment for infected mothers.
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