Given the increasing rates of syphilis and changing epidemiology of syphilis with increasing incidence in heterosexual populations, my clinical suspicion for syphilis testing has increased. If a patient presents with primary or secondary lesions that are amenable to PCR swabbing, I now collect a PCR swab specimen, in addition to sending the patient for serology.
Pregnant persons should be screened for syphilis during the first trimester (or first prenatal visit), and at delivery (or any time after week 35 for those planning home births).
Recent Comments