Congenital syphilis in Portugal, 2015-2024: Temporal-spatial characterization and gaps in prevention of vertical transmission.

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q3 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Epidemiology and Infection Pub Date : 2026-04-17 DOI:10.1017/S095026882610140X

Filipa Canha, Sebastian von Schreeb, Pedro Parreira da Silva, Inês Martins, Ana Mendes, Dina Oliveira, Pedro Pinto Leite, Vítor Cabral Veríssimo

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Abstract

Aligned with the increasing trend observed across the EU/EEA, congenital syphilis (CS) cases have risen in Portugal, which has the third highest rate per 100000 live births in the EU/EEA. This study aimed to analyse CS cases reported in Portugal, focusing on pregnancy monitoring and antenatal screening to identify gaps in preventing vertical transmission of syphilis. We conducted a descriptive study, including confirmed CS cases reported in Portugal from 2015 to 2024. We calculated annual incidence per 100000 live births and the proportion of pregnancies monitored and antenatal screenings performed. During 2015-2024, 99 confirmed CS cases were reported, 64.6% in infants under 1 month of age. The incidence of CS increased eightfold from 2016 to 2024. Among mothers of CS cases, 67.7% had pregnancies classified as monitored; of these, 77.6% had a record of antenatal screening, and 88.5% of those screened tested positive. These findings highlight potential fragilities in antenatal care, diagnosis and treatment, contributing to the resurgence of CS in Portugal. Addressing missed opportunities for prevention requires improving maternal healthcare, strengthening surveillance systems, and ensuring the timely treatment of pregnant people and their partners, in order to reverse this trend and move towards the elimination of vertical transmission of syphilis.

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葡萄牙先天性梅毒，2015-2024：时空特征和垂直传播预防差距

与整个欧盟/欧洲经济区观察到的增长趋势一致，先天性梅毒（CS）病例在葡萄牙有所上升，在欧盟/欧洲经济区每10万活产婴儿中发病率第三高。本研究旨在分析葡萄牙报告的CS病例，重点关注妊娠监测和产前筛查，以确定在预防梅毒垂直传播方面的差距。我们进行了一项描述性研究，包括2015年至2024年在葡萄牙报告的确诊CS病例。我们计算了每100000例活产的年发病率，以及监测妊娠和进行产前筛查的比例。2015-2024年间，报告了99例确诊的CS病例，其中64.6%为1个月以下的婴儿。从2016年到2024年，CS的发病率增加了8倍。在CS病例的母亲中，67.7%的妊娠被归类为监测；其中77.6%有产前筛查记录，88.5%的筛查结果呈阳性。这些发现突出了产前护理、诊断和治疗方面的潜在脆弱性，促进了CS在葡萄牙的复苏。要抓住错过的预防机会，就需要改善孕产妇保健，加强监测系统，并确保孕妇及其伴侣得到及时治疗，以便扭转这一趋势并朝着消除梅毒垂直传播的方向迈进。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Epidemiology and Infection 医学-传染病学

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

2.40%

发文量

366

审稿时长

3-6 weeks

期刊介绍： Epidemiology & Infection publishes original reports and reviews on all aspects of infection in humans and animals. Particular emphasis is given to the epidemiology, prevention and control of infectious diseases. The scope covers the zoonoses, outbreaks, food hygiene, vaccine studies, statistics and the clinical, social and public-health aspects of infectious disease, as well as some tropical infections. It has become the key international periodical in which to find the latest reports on recently discovered infections and new technology. For those concerned with policy and planning for the control of infections, the papers on mathematical modelling of epidemics caused by historical, current and emergent infections are of particular value.