Enhanced Surveillance of Infectious Syphilis in England and Wales

Introduction

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection of significant public health importance. Since 1997 cases have increased nationally and there have been a series of outbreaks amongst men who have sex with men and heterosexual men and women.

Rationale

Enhanced surveillance was established to better characterise the geographic and demographic distribution of infection as well as monitoring infection trends among behavioural risk groups. This information has been used to: (1) inform sexual health promotion interventions; (2) identify groups with significant levels of infection; and (3) provide data to inform our understanding of the burden of syphilis infection.

System summary

Enhanced Syphilis surveillance is based on voluntary reporting. However, all physicians who diagnose cases of infectious syphilis are encouraged to report as this will increase the representation of the surveillance data.

Case definition of infectious Syphilis to be included in the enhanced surveillance

A laboratory confirmed case of primary; secondary or early latent syphilis (up to two years after infection). Please see the BASHH guidelines for management of early syphilis for guidance on the diagnosis of infectious syphilis:

British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) Guidelines

Submission of forms

Details of laboratory confirmed cases of infectious syphilis should be entered onto the triplicate enhanced surveillance forms.  The top copy (white) should be returned to the Enhanced LGV & Syphilis coordinator at the HPA Centre for Infections; the middle copy (yellow) should be sent to the local Health Protection Agency Regional Office: and the bottom copy (pink) should be kept for the GUM clinic records.

Return of data

Data are returned on a quarterly basis to HPA Regional Epidemiologists and Sexual Health Leads for dissemination to the local GUM clinics.

Enhanced surveillance forms and pre paid envelopes are available from:

Cassandra Powers

Scientist (Epidemiology)
Enhanced LGV - Syphilis Surveillance
Health Protection Agency
Centre for Infections
61 Colindale Avenue
Colindale
London, NW9 5EQ

Tel: 44 (0)20 8327 7493
Fax: 44 (0)20 8200 7868

Email: cassandra.powers@hpa.org.uk