Syphilis, still a major cause of infant mortality

Abstract

In The Lancet Infectious Diseases today, Sarah Hawkes and colleagues 1 Hawkes S Matin N Broutet N Low N Effectiveness of interventions to improve screening for syphilis in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011; (published online June 16.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70104-9 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (131) Google Scholar review the effect of interventions to increase the coverage of screening and treatment for syphilis in pregnancy on the uptake of testing and treatment, and on adverse pregnancy outcomes averted. This study is a timely reminder that syphilis has not disappeared, and remains a major, although entirely preventable, cause of death in newborn babies. Effectiveness of interventions to improve screening for syphilis in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysisInterventions to improve the coverage and effect of screening programmes for antenatal syphilis could reduce the syphilis-attributable incidence of stillbirth and perinatal death by 50%. The resources required to roll out antenatal screening programmes would be a worthwhile investment for reduction of adverse pregnancy outcomes and improvement of neonatal and child survival. Full-Text PDF