Class: Syphilis Flashcards
What bacteria causes syphilis
trepnema pallidum
trepnema pallidum is what morphiology
spirochete
If you see this structural element of a bacteria it is always a spirochete
Periplasmic flagella!!!
What 2 stains are used to visualize treponema
dark-field microscopy or silver impregnation
Are spirochetes extracellular or intracellular
extracellular– all of them
2 modes of transmission
vertical- mother to fetus
sexual
describe the signs of primary treponema infx
hard, painless chancre
Is the chancre infectious
yes- full of spirochetes
secondary syphilis infects what part of body
disseminated mucocutaneous infx
sx of secondary syphilis (4)
rash on soles and palms
condyloma lata - gential warts
lesions in mouth
flu-like illness
define early and late latency in terms of time
early = <4 years after primary late = > 4 years after primary
teriary syphilis is marked by what skin sx
gummas (granulomatous lesions)
teriary syphilis is marked by what neurologic sx
tabes dorsalis = demyelination of dorsal columns= general paresis
teriary syphilis is marked by what cardiovascualr sx
aortitis - vasa vasorum destruction
What is risk of transmission of primary syphillis infx in pregnancy? risk with late latent or tertiary syphilis?
primary = 100%
risk with late latent or tertiary syphilis = 0%
what are Early congenital (<2 years) symptoms of syphilis
disseminated infx
Late congenital (>2 years) symptoms of syphillis (3)
stigmata = permanent defects
- Hutchinson’s Triad (see next slide)
- Saddle nose
- tertiary syphillis sx
What is Hutchinson’s Triad
- Hutchinson’s teeth - nothced incisors
- Interstitial keratitis- chronic inflammation of the cornea
- Deafness
What are the culture and Gram stain results for trponema
NONE!! they do not show up on either
What is the screening test for Syhpilis
Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL)/Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
What is the confirmatory test for Syhpilis
Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-ABS)
What is the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction-
acute febrile reaction < 24 hours after start of penicillin
Tx for Primary, secondary, early latency =
1 dose PCN G
Tx for Late latency, teritiary =
3 weekly doses PCN G
