Audit of early syphilis: Teesside experience 2005-2007

A retrospective audit of all cases of early syphilis seen in genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics in Teesside was undertaken between 2005 and 2007. In all 80 patients early syphilis was identified. Data on patient sexuality, treatment, and serological follow-up and partner notification were collected and analysed. There were 48 heterosexual cases. There were 21 heterosexual males, and of the 27 females, 12 (44%) were diagnosed during antenatal care. Intramuscular injections of benzathine penicillin were used to treat 75 out of the 80 patients at the clinics. The remaining five patients received oral therapy for two weeks: four had a course of doxycycline and one received arnoxicillin plus probenecid. The treatment rate of the population was 100%. In total, there were 115 contactable partners, of whom 87 (75.7%) were screened and/or treated. Successful treatment was defined as a four-fold or greater titre decrease in the Venereal Disease Reference Laboratory test within 3-6 months after treatment. Twenty-one patients were excluded when assessing this due to incomplete serological follow-up. Satisfactory titre declines occurred in 56 (94.9%) of the 59 patients. Overall, the clinics were shown to have adhered well with national standards. The rise in heterosexual and antenatal incidence is of concern.