title: Single-dose benzathine penicillin in infants at risk of congenital syphilis--results of a randomised study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of single-dose benzathine penicillin G in infants at high risk of congenital syphilis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised study comparing benzathine penicillin with no therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peninsula Maternal and Neonatal Service, Cape Town.
  
  
  METHODS
  Asymptomatic infants born to mothers with untreated syphilis whose VDRL titre was 32 or more.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of cases of congenital syphilis was determined by results of IgM Western blots and follow-up VDRL titres.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of 8 patients followed up in the non-treatment group, 4 had congenital syphilis while 0/11 had the disease (P = 0.035) in the group receiving benzathine penicillin. Although the exact failure rate is unknown, benzathine penicillin is effective in preventing symptomatic congenital syphilis when administered to high-risk newborns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Groote Schuur Hospital.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roditi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malan
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D013019:South Africa; D013587:Syphilis; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010406:Penicillins; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine