Syphilis and pregnancy

viral infection during pregnancy

1. Syphilis and pregnancy

2. The causative bacteria The organism responsible for syphilis is Treponema pallidum an anaerobic spirochete bacterium

3. Transmission Syphilis is transmitted by way of sexual contact during pregnancy in the carrier is in primary secondary or tertiary stage

4. Screening Routine screening is considered a standard practice to be preformed on the first prenatal visit and repeated at 28 th weeks of gestation Common screening test for nontreponemal tests VDRL or RPR test Venereal disease research laboratory Rapid plasma reagin

5. Common tests used to confirm the diagnosis are the treponemal antibody titer tests (MHA-TP) (FTA-ABS)

6. Treatment If the patient has had the disease for less than one year, she is given benzathine penicillin G,24 million units IM for one dose. If the patient has had the disease for more than one year she is given Bicillin L-A 2.4 million units IM for three doses 1 week apart for 3 consecutive weeks.

7. This therapy cures a maternal infection and prevents congenital infection 60% of women who receive this treatment experience a Jarisch Herxheimer reaction That is fever m ylagia Headache Mild hypotension Tachycardia Decreased fetal activity Uterine contractions

8. If the patient is allergic to penicillin then CDC guidelines suggest skin testing and referral for desensitization This is indicated because tetracycline and doxycycline are contraindicated during pregnancy And non penicillin drugs such as azithromycin fail to prevent congenital syphilis