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Published on: January 24, 2025
Latent syphilis among inpatients in an urban area of China
Ai-Ying Liu, Wen-Jing Zang, Ling-Ling Yuan
1Radiology Department, Stanford School of Medicine. shuqi@stanford.edu.
Abstract:
We aimed at investigating the epidemiological features of latent syphilis among inpatients in an urban area of China. During the period of Jan 1999 to Dec 2007, 146 inpatients were positive for treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay from 22,454 inpatients who were admitted to the China Meitan General Hospital. The number of latent syphilis increased steadily during this period of time. From the 146 TPPA positive inpatients, 137 inpatients were diagnosed as latent syphilis. The number of male patients with latent syphilis was slightly more than the female, but there was no statistical significance (P>0.01). The number of male patients over 60 years old was 42 (30.66%), which was higher than other age groups (p<0.05). The number of female patients at the age range of 20-29 years was 20 (14.60%), which was higher than other age groups (p<0.05). Our results demonstrated that routine syphilis screening among inpatients proves to be one of the most effective precautionary measures to identify latent syphilis and thus to prevent transmission in urban areas in China.
Insights
Routine syphilis screening in Chinese inpatients identified a steady increase in latent syphilis cases. The study highlights the importance of this screening for early detection and prevention of transmission in urban populations.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Syphilis remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Latent syphilis, often asymptomatic, poses a risk for transmission.
- Understanding epidemiological patterns is crucial for effective control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of latent syphilis among hospital inpatients in an urban Chinese setting.
- To analyze trends and demographic factors associated with latent syphilis.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of inpatient screening for latent syphilis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of inpatient data from January 1999 to December 2007.
- Inclusion of 22,454 inpatients from China Meitan General Hospital.
- Identification of latent syphilis cases using the treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay.
Main Results:
- A total of 146 inpatients tested positive via TPPA assay, with 137 diagnosed with latent syphilis.
- A steady increase in latent syphilis cases was observed over the study period.
- Males over 60 and females aged 20-29 showed higher prevalence rates (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Routine syphilis screening among inpatients is an effective method for identifying latent cases.
- Early detection through screening aids in preventing further transmission in urban areas.
- Demographic surveillance provides insights for targeted public health interventions.
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