<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Introduction.</bold> Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum spirochete and is mainly transmitted by sexual contact. Syphilis has the potential to cause serious complications and is closely related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection thus making syphilis still a major public health problem. In Indonesia, surveys of high-risk populations in 2007 and 2011 reported an increase in the prevalence of syphilis, especially in men who have sexual relationships with other men (MSM). Moreover, studies have described risk factors for HIV transmission including MSM, heterosexual contacts, Intravenous (IV) drug use, and infected partners.<bold>Objectives.</bold> To assess the epidemiological aspects and risk factors for syphilis in Makassar, as well as the correlation with a coinfection of other sexually transmitted infections.<bold>Material and Methods.</bold> This study is a multi-centre cross-sectional descriptive study with consecutive sampling. We evaluated cases for eligibility by confirming the diagnosis based on the serological result using rapid plasma reagin assay (RPR), Treponema pallidum haemagglutination (TPHA), and HIV screening kit. The cases were analyzed based on epidemiological features, risk factors and clinical findings, co-infection with other sexually transmitted infection (ST), and stadium of the disease.<bold>Results.</bold> A total of 79 serologically confirmed syphilis cases were collected between January 2017 and December 2018 in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province in Indonesia. Of the 63 male subjects (79.7%), 38 (48.1%) were homosexual/MSM, and in 41 cases of HIV-infected subjects, 25 (60.9%) of them were also MSM.<bold>Conclusion</bold>. Our study showed there was a significant correlation between syphilis and an increased risk of HIV transmission in MSM groups. The higher number of cases of syphilis and HIV co-infection among MSM can increase transmission of both infections and should be considered a major risk factor for syphilis in Makassar.</abstract>

Introduction. Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum spirochete and is mainly transmitted by sexual contact. Syphilis has the potential to cause serious complications and is closely related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection thus making syphilis still a major public health problem. In Indonesia, surveys of high-risk populations in 2007 and 2011 reported an increase in the prevalence of syphilis, especially in men who have sexual relationships with other men (MSM). Moreover, studies have described risk factors for HIV transmission including MSM, heterosexual contacts, Intravenous (IV) drug use, and infected partners.Objectives. To assess the epidemiological aspects and risk factors for syphilis in Makassar, as well as the correlation with a coinfection of other sexually transmitted infections.Material and Methods. This study is a multi-centre cross-sectional descriptive study with consecutive sampling. We evaluated cases for eligibility by confirming the diagnosis based on the serological result using rapid plasma reagin assay (RPR), Treponema pallidum haemagglutination (TPHA), and HIV screening kit. The cases were analyzed based on epidemiological features, risk factors and clinical findings, co-infection with other sexually transmitted infection (ST), and stadium of the disease.Results. A total of 79 serologically confirmed syphilis cases were collected between January 2017 and December 2018 in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province in Indonesia. Of the 63 male subjects (79.7%), 38 (48.1%) were homosexual/MSM, and in 41 cases of HIV-infected subjects, 25 (60.9%) of them were also MSM.Conclusion. Our study showed there was a significant correlation between syphilis and an increased risk of HIV transmission in MSM groups. The higher number of cases of syphilis and HIV co-infection among MSM can increase transmission of both infections and should be considered a major risk factor for syphilis in Makassar.

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors of syphilis in Makassar, Indonesia

Department of Dermatology and Venereology Faculty of Medicine

Department of Microbiology Faculty of Medicine

Serbian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Sero-epidemiology and risk factors of syphilis in Makassar, Indonesia"}

Introduction. Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum spirochete and is mainly transmitted by sexual contact. Syphilis has the potential...

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors of syphilis in Makassar, Indonesia

Published Online: Nov 25, 2019

Page range: 43 - 49

Received: Aug 17, 2019

Accepted: Aug 20, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjdv-2019-0006

Keywords
Syphilis Serodiagnosis, Risk Factors, Syphilis, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Homosexuality, Male, Indonesia

© 2019 Maryam Kusumawaty et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Sero-epidemiology and risk factors of syphilis in Makassar, Indonesia

Published Online: Nov 25, 2019

Page range: 43 - 49

Received: Aug 17, 2019

Accepted: Aug 20, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjdv-2019-0006

KeywordsSyphilis Serodiagnosis, Risk Factors, Syphilis, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Homosexuality, Male, Indonesia

© 2019 Maryam Kusumawaty et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Syphilis Serodiagnosis, Risk Factors, Syphilis, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Homosexuality, Male, Indonesia