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Procedures for In Vitro Cultivation of Treponema pallidum, the Syphilis Spirochete
Published on: January 24, 2025
[Syphilis outbreak in southeast France]
P Del Giudice1, V Ferraro, A Passeron
1Unité de Maladies Infectieuses et de Dermatologie, Hôpital Bonnet, Fréjus, Cedex, France. del-giudice-p@chi-frejus-saint-raphael.fr
Annales De Dermatologie Et De Venereologie
|October 21, 2006
Summary
Syphilis has resurged as an epidemic in France, particularly affecting homosexual and bisexual men in the Côte d'Azur region. Half of these patients were also diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), highlighting the need for routine syphilis screening in HIV care.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Syphilis, once rare in France, has seen a resurgence as an epidemic since 2000, notably in the Paris region.
- Limited data exists on syphilis trends in other French regions, necessitating localized studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the syphilis epidemic in the Côte d'Azur region of France.
- To identify the primary demographic and transmission patterns of syphilis in this area.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study collated syphilis cases reported between January 2001 and July 2003.
- Data was gathered from the Departments of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases in Nice and Fréjus, supplemented by general practitioner reports.
Main Results:
- 54 syphilis cases were identified in the Alpes-Maritimes and eastern Var regions.
- The epidemic predominantly impacted men (81%), with 70% of male cases linked to homosexual contact.
- 50% of patients were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with no significant difference in clinical presentation between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals.
Conclusions:
- The syphilis epidemic in Côte d'Azur primarily affects homosexual and bisexual men, many of whom are HIV-positive.
- Routine syphilis screening is crucial for HIV patients during initial assessment and ongoing monitoring.
- This study underscores the importance of regional surveillance for sexually transmitted infections like syphilis.
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