Syphilis

Question 1

also known as

Answer 1

lues

a contagious sexually trans caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum.

Question 2

only known host

Answer 2

human

Question 3

risk of acquiring infection from sexual contact w an infected partner in the prev 30 days is

Answer 3

16-30%

Question 4

t pallidum num of spirals

Answer 4

4-14. entire length is 5-20 um.

Question 5

confirmation

Answer 5

direct fluorescent antibody testing

Question 6

treponemal tests detect specific antitreponemal antibodies by

Answer 6

enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or 
T. pallidum particle assay ( TPPA) 

snesitivity exceeding 95%

Question 7

non treponemal tests are based on the fact that serum of persons w syphilis aggregates a

Answer 7

cardiolipin cholesterol lecithin antigen

Question 8

most widely used non treponemal tests are

Answer 8

RPR- rapid plasma reagin.
VDRL- Venereal disease research laboratories

std tests used in US.z Positive within 5-6 weeks of infection shortly before chancre heals.

Question 9

igm and G becomes detectable after how many weks

Answer 9

Igm- 2-3 weeks after infection. about the time the chancre appears.
igg- 4-5 weeks.

igm much more useful in dx primary syphilis.

Question 10

treponemal tests

Answer 10

MHA-TP (microhemagglutination assay for T.pallidum)

FTA-_ABS ( fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption)

confirm dx.

Question 11

all the tests remain positive even after tx?

Answer 11

Positive for life in majority of pxs.

13-24% become negative after tx.

Question 12

IGM EIA TEST negativr after tx in early syphilis

Answer 12

1 year 92% of pxs are negative for igm eia.

Question 13

monitor tx

Answer 13

non treponemal rpr vdrl

Question 14

p348

Answer 14

star

Question 15

Biologic false positive ( BFP)

Answer 15

positive non treponemal test and negative treponemal test.

90% of BFP test results are low titer (<1:8) “acute” bfp rxns are denined as those that revert to negative in less than 6 mos. persist for greater than 6 mos- chronic.

Question 16

Acute bfp rxns result from

Answer 16

Vaccinations
infections
pregnancy.

Question 17

chronic bfp

Answer 17

connective tissue dx 
SLE 
chronic liver disease 
multiple blood transfusions/ iv drug use. 
advancing age.

Question 18

false positice results to specific treponemal tests less commun but have been reported in the ff dx

Answer 18

LE 
drug induced lupus 
scleroderma
rheumatoid arthritis
small pox vaccination 
pregancy 
genital herpes infections