Halo 194 (Jan 2018)
Raising incidence in siphilis infection in Serbia and current testing algorithm
Abstract
Introduction Syphilis (lues) is a chronic infectious disease caused by the spirochete bacteria Treponema pallidum. The infection is most commonly transmitted by sexual contact, more rarely via the transplacentar route from the infected mother to the baby, while the transmittion via blood and/or blood products or accidental innoculation is at this day and age extremely rare. During the period of time examined in this report, the number of incidents of syphilis infection in Serbia has tripled. Diagnostic algorithms for syphilis are nowadays prone to modifications. World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines are modified in many European countries to better suit local conditions. Objective: Presentation and analysis of ELISA serology tests for syphilis performed at the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Disease, Clinical Center of Serbia, for the period of 2004 to 2016 and comparisson of these results with data obtained from the Institute of Public Health of Serbia 'Dr Milan Jovanović Batut' for the same time period. Methodology: During the afore mentioned period of time, 252.310 patients were tested for syphilis, using the 3rd generation ELISA test. Those results were compared with data obtained from the Institute of Public Health of Serbia for the same time period. Results: A trend of growth has been noted for new infections and incidence of disease for syphilis almost 4.5 times between 2004 (35 new infections, incidence of disease 0.5/100.000 people) and 2016 (155 new infections, incidence of disease 2-21/100.000 people). The results of our study are compatible with the results published in the yearly report of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia for 2016, stating that the number of people diagnosed with syphilis (159) in 2016 is 9.23% higher than in 2015 (146 patients), which makes the registered five-year period of 2012-2016 the time period with the highest registered rate of incidence of syphilis infection. Conclusion: Syphilis (lues) is one of the most serious chronic sexually transmittive diseases, caused by the spirochete bacteria Treponema pallidum. A trifold rise in the incidence of syphillis infection has been noted in the previous years as shown by our study performed at the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Disease, Clinical Center of Serbia. Diagnostics for syphilis should be performed according to the precise algorithm prescribed by the World Health Organization, adapted to the conditions of testing in Serbia.
