Class: Syphilis

Question 1

What bacteria causes syphilis

Answer 1

trepnema pallidum

Question 2

trepnema pallidum is what morphiology

Answer 2

spirochete

Question 3

If you see this structural element of a bacteria it is always a spirochete

Answer 3

Periplasmic flagella!!!

Question 4

What 2 stains are used to visualize treponema

Answer 4

dark-field microscopy or silver impregnation

Question 5

Are spirochetes extracellular or intracellular

Answer 5

extracellular– all of them

Question 6

2 modes of transmission

Answer 6

vertical- mother to fetus

sexual

Question 7

describe the signs of primary treponema infx

Answer 7

hard, painless chancre

Question 8

Is the chancre infectious

Answer 8

yes- full of spirochetes

Question 9

secondary syphilis infects what part of body

Answer 9

disseminated mucocutaneous infx

Question 10

sx of secondary syphilis (4)

Answer 10

rash on soles and palms
condyloma lata - gential warts
lesions in mouth
flu-like illness

Question 11

define early and late latency in terms of time

Answer 11

early  = <4 years after primary
late = > 4 years after primary

Question 12

teriary syphilis is marked by what skin sx

Answer 12

gummas (granulomatous lesions)

Question 13

teriary syphilis is marked by what neurologic sx

Answer 13

tabes dorsalis = demyelination of dorsal columns= general paresis

Question 14

teriary syphilis is marked by what cardiovascualr sx

Answer 14

aortitis - vasa vasorum destruction

Question 15

What is risk of transmission of primary syphillis infx in pregnancy? risk with late latent or tertiary syphilis?

Answer 15

primary = 100%

risk with late latent or tertiary syphilis = 0%

Question 16

what are Early congenital (<2 years) symptoms of syphilis

Answer 16

disseminated infx

Question 17

Late congenital (>2 years) symptoms of syphillis (3)

Answer 17

stigmata = permanent defects

1. Hutchinson’s Triad (see next slide)
2. Saddle nose
3. tertiary syphillis sx

Question 18

What is Hutchinson’s Triad

Answer 18

1. Hutchinson’s teeth - nothced incisors
2. Interstitial keratitis- chronic inflammation of the cornea
3. Deafness

Question 19

What are the culture and Gram stain results for trponema

Answer 19

NONE!! they do not show up on either

Question 20

What is the screening test for Syhpilis

Answer 20

Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL)/Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)

Question 21

What is the confirmatory test for Syhpilis

Answer 21

Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-ABS)

Question 22

What is the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction-

Answer 22

acute febrile reaction < 24 hours after start of penicillin

Question 23

Tx for Primary, secondary, early latency =

Answer 23

1 dose PCN G

Question 24

Tx for Late latency, teritiary =

Answer 24

3 weekly doses PCN G

Question 25

Tx for Neurosyphilis

Answer 25

IV PCN G