Wanni NHO, Dossary RA, Obeid OE, Qahtani NHA, Siddiqui ZI, El-Badry AA, Alkharsah KR. Seropositivity of syphilis among individuals screened in a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Ann Saudi Med 2021;
41:8-13. [PMID:
33550909 PMCID:
PMC7868618 DOI:
10.5144/0256-4947.2021.8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Sexually transmitted infections are a serious public health problem. Syphilis, a multistage, curable chronic disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, remains a major health problem worldwide. The disease re-emerged in the era of HIV in many countries despite the accessibility of curative therapy and continuing public health efforts to eliminate it.
OBJECTIVE
Analyse the seropositivity for syphilis.
DESIGN
Retrospective cross-sectional.
SETTING
Tertiary hospital.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We retrospectively studied individuals who underwent screening tests for syphilis between January 2014 and December 2018. The samples that were positive by both screening and confirmatory tests were considered as confirmed positive for syphilis.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Syphilis positivity identified by chemiluminescence immunoassay, the rapid plasma reagin test, and specific antibodies against Treponema pallidum.
SAMPLE SIZE
11 832.
RESULTS
Of the 11 832, 54 (0.45%) were confirmed as seropositive for syphilis. Thirty-three (61.1%) were non-Saudi; 21 (38.9%) were Saudis. Thirty (55.6%) cases were males. Twenty-two (40.74%) were married and 29 (53.70%) were unmarried. Of the 54 diagnosed as syphilis positive, 28 (51.9%) were expatriate workers screened for pre-employment. The percentage of syphilis among Saudis was 0.36%. In an overall chi-square analysis, a P<.0001 indicated a difference among nationalities in the frequency of syphilis. A post-hoc analysis showed that Somalians (P=.004) and Sudanese (P=.005) differed significantly from other nationalities.
CONCLUSION
The study showed that syphilis was low among the screened population. More than half of the syphilis positive cases in this study were household employees. Screening for syphilis assists in planning complementary services for target populations and improves syphilis control.
LIMITATIONS
Retrospective design. Hospital-based findings may not be representative of the seroprevalence of syphilis in the general population.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
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