[Syphilis in Nantes tertiary care hospital between 2000 and 2010: a case series of 36 hospitalized patients].
OBJECTIVE
Syphilis infection increase has been observed since the early 2000s. The medical records of patients hospitalized for syphilis at the tertiary care hospital of Nantes between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.


METHODS
Cases were selected on the basis of serological database of the laboratory of bacteriology and extraction from the PMIS. Syphilis cases were defined by both positive TPHA and VDRL tests.


RESULTS
The number of positive serology testing was increased eightfold within ten years. Among the 36 patients with syphilis hospitalized cases, 97% were male, aged 17 to 75 years. Eighteen were HIV-infected patients. Among them, 94% were homosexuals and 67% had a history of sexually transmitted infections. The mean time between symptoms and diagnosis was significantly higher in non HIV-infected patients. Clinical forms of syphilis were cutaneomucous secondary syphilis with frequent systemic symptoms for 33%, neurosyphilis, including frequent uveitis for 50%, and gummatous tertiary syphilis involving bones for one patient. Secondary syphilis cases were treated with one to three doses of benzathine penicillin G. Late syphilis and cases of neurosyphilis were treated with penicillin G or ceftriaxone. Neurosensory sequelae accounted for 39% neurosyphilis cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the incidence increase of syphilis cases in France, frequent poor prognosis of neurosyphilis cases, and diagnosis difficulties, particularly in non HIV-infected patients. This emphasizes the broader use of syphilis serology for compatible medical situations.
Service de maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU de Nantes, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44093 Nantes cedex 1, France. lefebvremaeva@gmail.com
M
M
Lefebvre
C
C
Biron
A
A
Guillouzouic
M E
ME
Juvin
A
A
Masseau
A
A
Néel
O
O
Grossi
D
D
Boutoille
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
Epidemiology; HIV; Hospitalisation; Hospitalization; Neurosyphilis; Syphilis; VIH; Épidémiologie