Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health Results
In the context of increasing syphilis incidence in many Western countries, we sought to better understand the frequency and outcomes associated with inconclusive serologic syphilis results. To accomplish this, we reviewed all inconclusive results that arose from an indeterminant confirmatory trepone...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/5642952 |
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| author | Patrick O’Byrne Leslie Tilley Dara Spatz Friedman Lauren Orser |
| author_facet | Patrick O’Byrne Leslie Tilley Dara Spatz Friedman Lauren Orser |
| author_sort | Patrick O’Byrne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the context of increasing syphilis incidence in many Western countries, we sought to better understand the frequency and outcomes associated with inconclusive serologic syphilis results. To accomplish this, we reviewed all inconclusive results that arose from an indeterminant confirmatory treponemal screen (specifically the Treponema pallidum particulate agglutination test), which were reported to Ottawa Public Health from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. Our case review identified that 52 persons generated such test results during the study period, of whom 44.4% were cases requiring treatment, 46.3% were persons without new risk factors or symptoms of syphilis who had been previously treated for this infection, and 9.3% were not syphilis. Overall, these untreated syphilis cases accounted for 8.6% of all new syphilis diagnoses in our local jurisdiction during the study period. These results highlight that case investigation and prompt management of inconclusive syphilis results is an appropriate public health and clinical approach and that such a strategy could contribute to efforts to reduce increasing syphilis incidence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2834732f9b024be39016af98ff0ba062 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1712-9532 1918-1493 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2834732f9b024be39016af98ff0ba0622025-08-20T03:54:42ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology1712-95321918-14932020-01-01202010.1155/2020/56429525642952Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health ResultsPatrick O’Byrne0Leslie Tilley1Dara Spatz Friedman2Lauren Orser3University of Ottawa, School of Nursing, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, CanadaOttawa Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health Services, Ottawa, CanadaOttawa Public Health, Ottawa, CanadaOttawa Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health Services, Ottawa, CanadaIn the context of increasing syphilis incidence in many Western countries, we sought to better understand the frequency and outcomes associated with inconclusive serologic syphilis results. To accomplish this, we reviewed all inconclusive results that arose from an indeterminant confirmatory treponemal screen (specifically the Treponema pallidum particulate agglutination test), which were reported to Ottawa Public Health from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. Our case review identified that 52 persons generated such test results during the study period, of whom 44.4% were cases requiring treatment, 46.3% were persons without new risk factors or symptoms of syphilis who had been previously treated for this infection, and 9.3% were not syphilis. Overall, these untreated syphilis cases accounted for 8.6% of all new syphilis diagnoses in our local jurisdiction during the study period. These results highlight that case investigation and prompt management of inconclusive syphilis results is an appropriate public health and clinical approach and that such a strategy could contribute to efforts to reduce increasing syphilis incidence.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/5642952 |
| spellingShingle | Patrick O’Byrne Leslie Tilley Dara Spatz Friedman Lauren Orser Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health Results Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology |
| title | Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health Results |
| title_full | Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health Results |
| title_fullStr | Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health Results |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health Results |
| title_short | Inconclusive Syphilis Results: A Retrospective Review of Public Health Results |
| title_sort | inconclusive syphilis results a retrospective review of public health results |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/5642952 |
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