China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Syphilis, Congenital ; epidemiology ; transmission

No abstract available.
Adult ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Syphilis/epidemiology*

BACKGROUNDFemale sex workers (FSW) were high-risk population for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) earlier, and now are an important driver of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China. Sentinel surveillance for FSW was set up to monitor the trend of HIV prevalence and risk behavior-related HIV infection. This study collected the data on street-based FSW from HIV sentinel surveillance system to understand HIV and syphilis infections, risk behaviors, and intervention in China from 2010 to 2012.

METHODSThe study population was the street-based FSW who were recruited for the national HIV integrated biological and behavioral surveillance between 2010 and 2012. Demographic information, HIV-related risk behaviors, and HIV and syphilis testing results were described and trend analysis was performed.

RESULTSBetween 2010 and 2012, the number of street-based FSW surveyed was 3725, 3425, and 3335, respectively. HIV knowledge awareness rate significantly increased from 74.6% in 2010 to 76.8% in 2011 and 82.2% in 2012 (P < 0.01). More FSW consistently used condom in the last month (49.0% in 2010; 51.0% in 2011; and 59.0% in 2012) and in the last commercial sex (72.0% in 2010; 78.5% in 2011; and 80.0% in 2012) over time. The proportions of individuals who received HIV testing in the last year were 31.2% (2010), 37.0% (2011), and 36.9% (2012) (P-trend <0.01). HIV prevalence rate changed from 1.5% in 2010 to 1.4% in 2011 and 2.3% in 2012 (P-trend = 0.01). Syphilis prevalence rate was 6.9%, 7.2%, and 7.1% in the same period. The top three provinces with the highest average HIV prevalence rates over the 3 years were Guangxi (5.9%), Yunnan (4.2%), and Sichuan (1.2%).

CONCLUSIONSStreet-based FSW are at high risk of HIV and syphilis infections. Intervention efforts need to target streetbased FSW who are of old age and minority, who use illicit drugs and have syphilis infection.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Risk-Taking ; Sex Workers ; Syphilis ; epidemiology

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gonorrhea ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; epidemiology

BACKGROUND: The syphilis diagnostic algorithms applied in different countries vary significantly depending on the local syphilis epidemiology and other considerations, including the expected workload, the need for automation in the laboratory and budget factors. This study was performed to investigate the efficacy of traditional and reverse syphilis diagnostic algorithms during general health checkups. METHODS: In total, 1,000 blood specimens were obtained from 908 men and 92 women during their regular health checkups. Traditional screening and reverse screening were applied to the same specimens using automatic rapid plasma regain (RPR) and Treponema pallidum latex agglutination (TPLA) tests, respectively. Specimens that were reverse algorithm (TPLA) reactive, were subjected to a second treponemal test performed by using the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). RESULTS: Of the 1,000 specimens tested, 68 (6.8%) were reactive by reverse screening (TPLA) compared with 11 (1.1%) by traditional screening (RPR). The traditional algorithm failed to detect 48 specimens [TPLA(+)/RPR(−)/CMIA(+)]. The median TPLA cutoff index (COI) was higher in CMIA-reactive cases than in CMIA-nonreactive cases (90.5 vs 12.5 U). CONCLUSIONS: The reverse screening algorithm could detect the subjects with possible latent syphilis who were not detected by the traditional algorithm. Those individuals could be provided with opportunities for evaluating syphilis during their health checkups. The COI values of the initial TPLA test may be helpful in excluding false-positive TPLA test results in the reverse algorithm.
Agglutination ; Automation ; Budgets ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Latex ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Plasma ; Syphilis* ; Syphilis, Latent ; Treponema pallidum

OBJECTIVETo explore the prevalence of syphilis and risk factors on pregnant women in Fujian province.

METHODSFrom July 1st, 2004 to June 30th, 2006, epidemiologic methods as questionnaires to fill in and rapid plasma reagent testing (RPR) were performed. Pregnant women with positive RPR test and then were confirmed by treponema pallidum test (TP). Intervention was provided to the pregnant women who were followed up to the postpartum periods. Results were compared during the peri-neonatal stage between syphilis-infected and non-infected women. Factors which were relative to syphilis infection were analyzed by simple and then further logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThere were 38 418 pregnant women under study, of whom 772 were confirmed including 60 who were still pregnant. The prevalence of syphilis during pregnancy was 1.85% (712/38 418), with mostly underlying syphilis which played an important role during the neonatal stage. Main risk factors to have been found as: women's occupation, cultural background, place of living, husband's occupation, family income, having sexually transmitted disease(STD) infection. The prognosis of peri-neonatal stage was worse if the mother was having blood RPR test positive. Mortality of peri-neonatal, preterm birth rate and low-birth weight rate were found also higher among mothers when RPR was positive (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of syphilis in Fujian province was going up yearly. 8 factors including women's occupation, cultural background, place of living, received poor health education, having multiple sexual partners, husband's occupation, family income and having STD were main risk factors in the province, the mother's status of syphilis infection would strongly relate to the peri-neonatal stage of pregnancy.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; Syphilis Serodiagnosis ; Young Adult

The 6,097 blood donors in Seoul area, the 1,883 pregnant women delivered at Severance Hospital and the 5,136 physical examinees were evaluated for VDRL reactivity. Also, the FTA-ABS and TPHA tests were performed on those who were VDRL-positive, and the 19S (IgM)-FTA test were done on the subjects who were reactive for the FTA-ABS and TPHA tests. All the subjects were over the age of 20 and the study period was conducted from January of 1986 through December of 1986. The results are summarized as follows: 1. VDRL-positive rates were 0.5% in the blood donors, 0.6% in the pregnant women and 0.8% in the physical examinees. 2. The quantitative test of VDRL resulted in low titer below 1:4 in 96% of VDRL-positive pregnant women and physical examinees. 3. The 19S (IgM)-FTA test was reactive in 3 of 12 treated subjects (25%) and 4 of 10 untreated subjects (40%). From the results it is clear that the prevalence of syphilis is continually decreasing compared to the mid 1970's and the early 1980's.
Adult ; Blood Donors ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology ; Syphilis/*epidemiology ; Syphilis Serodiagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the HIV infection rate and relevant behavioural characteristics among drug users (DUs) in the 15 cities of China-Gates HIV/AIDS Program.

METHODSBy literature review from the public security sector and expert consultations, the size of drug using population was estimated, questionnaire was used to survey relevant behavioural characteristics of DUs, and blood specimens were collected for HIV, syphilis and HCV testing.

RESULTSIn 2007, the number of registered DUs in the 15 cities was 176 004, while the estimated number was 477 989. DUs mainly used heroin and crystal meth. Of the survey subjects, 41.0% (2685/6155) had correct knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and Hangzhou 97.6% (410/420), Qingdao 85.5% (342/400), Wuhan 69.7% (308/442), Kunming 63.8% (255/400), Shanghai 45.4% (237/522), Xi'an 44.5% (178/400), Nanjing 38.8% (155/400), Beijing 36.5% (237/650), Guangzhou 29.5% (122/413), Haerbin 25.4% (114/447), Haikou 23.8% (96/402), Chongqing 22.4% (90/401), Sanya 20.0% (80/400), Tianjin 16.2% (41/253), Shenyang 9.8% (20/205), and the difference among the cities has statistical significance (χ(2) = 1482.833, P < 0.05). The rate of needle sharing at the last injection was 10.8% (665/6155), and Hangzhou 10.8% (45/420), Chongqing 26.4% (106/401), Guangzhou 2.6% (11/413), Shenyang 31.3% (64/205), Shanghai 0.4% (2/522), Kunming 10.8% (43/400), Beijing 10.6% (69/650), Tianjin 5.4% (14/253), Xi'an 3.3% (13/400), Wuhan 17.9% (79/442), Sanya 20.0% (80/400), Haikou 2.2% (9/402), Haerbin 8.5% (38/447), Nanjing 21.4% (86/400), Qingdao 1.5% (6/400), and the difference among the cities has statistical significance (χ(2) = 483.044, P < 0.05). Only 5.0% (8737/176 004) of DUs and 1.2% of HIV positive DUs participated in needle exchange. The HIV, syphilis and HCV infection rates were respectively 2.76% (155/5620), 3.38% (190/5620) and 32.35% (1818/5620). The HIV infection rates of different city was:Hangzhou 0.4% (1/273), Chongqing 7.5% (30/401), Guangzhou 2.9% (12/413), Shenyang 0.5% (1/205), Shanghai 0.32% (1/316), Kunming 16.25% (65/400), Beijing 2.6% (16/624), Tianjin 2.0% (5/253), Xi'an 1.25% (5/400), Wuhan 0.24% (1/411), Sanya 1.75% (7/400), Haikou 0.2% (1/402), Haerbin 1.1% (5/447), Nanjing 1.1% (3/275), Qingdao 0.5% (2/400), and the difference among the cities has statistical significance (χ(2) = 354.203, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe HIV prevalence rate of IDUs in 15 cities slowly decreased although the HIV prevalence rate of IDUs in Chongqing and Kunming and other cities had surpassed the international warning level. The risk of sharing needles for HIV infection was dropped, and more attention should be paid to the potential risk of HIV transmission via unsafe sex due to the use of new drugs, such as amphetamine chloride.

China ; epidemiology ; Drug Users ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; Treponema pallidum ; Urban Population

Objective: To understand the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis and related factors among cross-border couples in Mangshi county, Dehong autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province. Methods: From May, 2017 to April, 2019, 2 500 couples with 5 000 cross-border marriages were selected by using cluster sampling method. The demographic characteristics, AIDS-related health services, HIV, HCV, syphilis infection and other information were collected through questionnaires and laboratory tests. The influencing factors of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Results: A total of 2 500 couples with cross-border marriage were investigated, among which 2 438 (97.5%) couples were Chinese men with Myanmar women. The average age of 5 000 participants was (34.16±9.00) years. Most of them were minority groups (59.9%), farmers (98.5%), education years ≤6 years (81.4%), marriage years>3 years (80.0%), and from mountainous areas (61.7%). The HIV prevalence of Chinese and Myanmar populations was 1.7% (43/2 500) and 2.0% (49/2 500), respectively. The HCV infection rates were 2.0% (49/2 500) and 1.3% (32/2 500), respectively and the infection rates of syphilis were 0.4% (10/2 500) and 0.2% (4/2 500), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of three diseases among Chinese and Myanmar populations (P>0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that compared with those aged ≤ 30 years, having lower AIDS awareness, never receiving HIV testing, without HCV and syphilis infection, HIV prevalence was higher among those aged>30 years (OR=3.21, 95%CI: 1.80-5.73), having higher AIDS awareness (OR=17.41, 95%CI: 4.27-70.91), receiving HIV testing (OR=4.93, 95%CI: 2.72-8.92), with HCV infection (OR=5.64, 95%CI: 2.72-11.70) and syphilis infection (OR=8.37, 95%CI: 1.63-43.08). Compared with those aged ≤ 30 years, having marriage years ≤ 3 years, and with HIV negatives, HCV infection rate was higher among those age>30 years (OR=3.02, 95%CI: 1.69-5.38), having marriage years>3 years (OR=2.24, 95%CI: 1.34-3.74), and with HIV positives (OR=6.69, 95%CI: 3.29-13.59). Compared with those having HIV negatives, the syphilis infection rate was relatively higher among participants with HIV positives (OR=9.07, 95%CI: 2.00-41.10). Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV, HCV, and syphilis among cross-border couples in Mangshi county, Dehong autonomous prefecture of Yunnan province is relatively high. Age, AIDS awareness, HIV testing history, and the length of marriage are associated with the HIV, HCV, and syphilis infection.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Syphilis/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVETo summarize the epidemiological features of senile syphilis.

METHODThe clinical data of 50 elderly (>60 years) patients with syphilis who were treated in the Clinic of Sexually Transmitted Diseases of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 31 men and 19 women (male to female ratio:1.6:1). Non-marital sexual intercourse was the main route of transmission. The disease was mainly found before surgeries. Among these 50 syphilis cases, 3 were primary syphilis, 13 were secondary syphilis, 10 were early latent syphilis, 12 were late latent syphilis, and 12 were latent syphilis of unknown duration. Co-morbidities with other sexually transmitted diseases were found in 4 patients. The rate of sero-resistance was 40%.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of syphilis in the senile population is higher than we expected. Routine serological screening for syphilis is required in clinical settings. The underlying diseases, human hosts-related spirochetes, and laboratory testing techniques are important reasons for the false positive findings in senile patients.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Syphilis ; classification ; diagnosis ; epidemiology