Yearly Trend of Syphilis Seroprevalence Among STD, ART and ANC Attendees

Six-Year Period Study from A Tertiary Care Hospital

  • Bineeta Kashyap Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Nisha Goyal Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Krishna Singha PG Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
  • Mohd Tajuddin Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
  • N P Singh Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21276/apalm.2652
Keywords: Syphilis, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, antenatal mothers, VDRL

Abstract

Background & Objective: Despite the several ongoing campaigns highlighting the importance of safe sexual practices and public awareness activities about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), syphilis still constitutes a significant public health problem in the developing countries. The present study was initiated to understand the current trend of syphilis among the (STD) clinic patients, patients receiving anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and antenatal mothers. Methods:This study extended over a period of six years from 2013-2018.All the samples that were sent for routine VDRL testing were included in the present study.Samples were screened by qualitative and quantitative VDRL test. Results: A total of 77,634 serum samples were screened for syphilis by VDRL testing over a period of six years. Out of these, 762 samples were reactive. Syphilisseroprevalence ranged from 0.33% to 2.19% with the highest seroprevalence in the year 2018. 75.6% of the cases belonged to 18-35 years age group. An overall upward trend of the VDRL reactive cases was recorded among all the three groups of STD, ART and antenatal clinic cases. Conclusions: It is crucial to understand the current trend and epidemiology of syphilis among ART, STIs and ANC clinic attendees for the proper planning andimplementation of preventive and control strategies.

Author Biographies

Nisha Goyal, Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Krishna Singha, PG Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
PG Resident, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Mohd Tajuddin, Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, Delhi State Cancer Institute, Delhi
N P Singh, Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.
Director Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi.

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Published
2019-11-08
Issue
Vol 6 No 10 (2019)
Section
Original Article

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