Professor Paul Kelly, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, has joined calls for the health sector to stay up to date with infectious syphilis, amid a significant rise in syphilis diagnoses in Australia.
In the past decade, rates of syphilis diagnoses in Australia have tripled, according to a recent report by the Kirby Institute. Notably, among women the rate of syphilis has increased six-fold, while congenital syphilis cases rose 68 per cent. Given the devastating potential risks of congenital syphilis, including stillbirth and neonatal death, the rise in syphilis among women of reproductive age is an urgent concern.
"The syphilis epidemic in Australia is past a tipping point...we must act now. As health workers, we have a responsibility to do all we can to combat syphilis."
Congenital syphilis
Syphilis cases are on the rise in Australia, including among young people of reproductive age. As a result, we’re seeing the re-emergence of congenital syphilis, when the infection is transmitted during pregnancy. This can have devastating health consequences for newborn babies, including death.
Congenital syphilis is also entirely preventable. We must ensure everyone is tested for syphilis during pregnancy. All pregnant people should be tested at least once, and in many cases more. Check your state and territory guidelines for details on additional testing. Once diagnosed, treatment is simple and effective. As cases rise, it is our responsibility as health professionals to learn more about syphilis testing and management. ASHM now has a range of resources, guidelines and training at ASHM.org.au/syphilis to support you to play your part in the fight against congenital syphilis. A resource I especially want to draw your attention to is ASHM’s online Syphilis Decision Making Tool. It’s a simple, comprehensive, and easy to follow guide to syphilis treatment in common clinical scenarios that can help you decide the best treatment for your patient. I’ve used it to make sure that I’m up to date. Why don’t you? Together, we can prevent the needless deaths of any more newborn babies from congenital syphilis. And I thank you for your assistance.Congenital syphilis — where the syphilis infection is passed from mother to child during pregnancy — is entirely preventable. Health professionals can help eliminate congenital syphilis in Australia by incorporating regular syphilis testing into antenatal care, and ensuring they are informed on the management of syphilis during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period.
ASHM clinical resources on syphilis in antenatal care
NSW Introduction to Syphilis for Midwives and Clinicians Providing Antenatal Care
BBVs and STIs in Antenatal Care
Syphilis testing and prevention
Syphilis should not be an epidemic in Australia. But it is. And it’s becoming a national shame. The syphilis epidemic in Australia is past a tipping point. Cases will continue to rise across the population and we must act now.
As health workers, we have a responsibility to do all we can to combat syphilis. That means testing early and often, providing prompt treatment to those diagnosed, and staying up to date with the latest guidance on syphilis management.
The recently updated National Sexually Transmitted Infections Management Guidelines recommend that tests for syphilis and HIV are included whenever you test for STIs. Ordering a test is easy, and once diagnosed, treatment is simple and effective.
I strongly urge all health care workers to review and follow the National STI Management Guidelines and to stay up to date on syphilis by accessing ASHM’s resources, guidelines and training at ASHM.org.au/syphilis. If you haven’t already, I recommend you check out ASHM’s online Syphilis Decision Making Tool. It’s a simple, comprehensive and easy to follow guide to syphilis treatment in common clinical scenarios and can help you decide the best treatment for your patient.
I’ve used it to make sure I’m up to date. Why don’t you? Together, we can turn the tide and end Australia’s syphilis epidemic. And thank you for your assistance.
Syphilis is both preventable and curable. It is the responsibility of health professionals to ensure they are implementing best practice to diagnose syphilis early and provide effective treatment.
Professor Paul Kelly urges health professionals to review and consult ASHM’s syphilis resources, such as the Australian STI Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care and online interactive Syphilis Decision-Making Tool.
Syphilis resources for health professionals
All of ASHM’s resources focused on syphilis testing and management — including clinical guidelines, CPD-accredited online learning modules and decision-making tools — are available on the Syphilis Learning Hub.
