Document 0026
 DOCN  M94A0026
 TI    Routine serologic screening for syphilis in hospitalized patients: high
       prevalence of unsuspected infection in the elderly.
 DT    9412
 AU    Burton AA; Flynn JA; Neumann TM; Wilson C; Quinn TC; Hook EW 3rd;
       Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of; Medicine,
       Baltimore, Maryland.
 SO    Sex Transm Dis. 1994 May-Jun;21(3):133-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94353298
 AB    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potential yield of routine
       serologic testing for syphilis in hospitalized patients. STUDY DESIGN:
       Sera from consecutive patients admitted to an inpatient general medical
       service of a Baltimore hospital were tested using the RPR and FTA-ABS
       tests for syphilis. Two hundred ninety-one (149 males and 142 females)
       of 344 patients (85%) hospitalized during the study period participated,
       with ages ranging from 17 to 98 years. Seventy-seven percent of
       participants were African-American. Results of serologic tests for
       syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus were correlated with
       questionnaire responses. Associations were sought between results of
       serologic testing and demographic characteristics, medical problems, and
       a history of syphilis. RESULTS: No patient had an admitting diagnosis of
       syphilis. Thirty-seven patients (13%) had both reactive RPR and FTA-ABS
       tests. Although serologic evidence of syphilis was significantly
       associated with age older than 50 years and with a history of syphilis,
       59% of patients with both reactive RPR and FTA-ABS tests did not give a
       history of syphilis. Ten percent of patients were HIV seropositive;
       however HIV seropositivity was not significantly associated with
       serologic evidence of syphilis. CONCLUSION: Unsuspected latent syphilis
       was common in this population. Routine serologic screening for syphilis
       should be considered in some hospitals.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Age Factors  Aged  Aged, 80 and over  Female
       *Hospitalization  Human  HIV Seroprevalence  Male  Mass Screening
       Middle Age  Prevalence  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
       Syphilis/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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