Factors associated with syphilis infection: a comprehensive analysis based on a case-control study.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Syphilis remains a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding risk factors for syphilis infection is crucial for effective prevention and control strategies.
• Co-infections with other sexually transmitted infections and chronic diseases can complicate syphilis management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively evaluate factors influencing syphilis infection risk.
• To identify associations between syphilis and behavioral risk factors, medical conditions, and viral infections.
• To inform public health interventions and clinical screening protocols.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study design.
• Inclusion of 664 syphilis inpatients and 800 matched controls.
• Logistic regression analysis of medical histories, clinical data, and interview data.

Main Results:

• Syphilis prevalence was 3.9% in the study population.
• Independent risk factors identified: migration between cities, current smoking, elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and specific Hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological patterns.
• Significant syphilis-HBV co-infection observed, particularly in HIV-negative patients.

Conclusions:

• Migration, smoking, elevated BUN, and HBV infection are independently associated with syphilis.
• Syphilis-HBV co-infection warrants further investigation and clinical attention.
• Simultaneous screening for HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV is recommended for inpatients and blood donors to prevent infectious disease spread.