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Prevalence monitoring in syphilis surveillance: results from a multicenter research program.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2002;29(12):769-774.
Finelli L, Farley TP, Gibson JJ, Langley C, Hwang LY, Levine
WC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Syphilis seroprevalence data can be used as an independent measure
of syphilis trends and to augment syphilis case report data for program planning.
The prevalence of reactive syphilis serology in jails, delivery rooms, and
drug treatment centers was examined from 1995 to 1999. Prevalence was evaluated
by age and gender at each site and compared with county primary and secondary
syphilis case rates. Annual prevalence of high titer-reactive serology in
jails was compared with primary and secondary syphilis case rates. GOAL:
The goal was to examine trends in syphilis seroprevalence and to evaluate
the relationship of trends in seroprevalence to reported cases. STUDY DESIGN:
This was a cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: Prevalence of reactive serology
and high titer-reactive serology was lowest among women in delivery rooms
(2.9% and 0.4%, respectively) and highest among women in jails (11.1% and
4.1%, respectively), indicating substantial recently treated or active infection
among women in jails. Trends in high titer-reactive serology were similar
to primary and secondary syphilis case rates. CONCLUSION: The prevalence
of high titer-reactive serology can provide valuable information about community
syphilis morbidity for use in prevention and control programs.