Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

New Syphilis Home Screening Test Positioned to Raise Awareness

A new over-the-counter syphilis antibody test has received marketing authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Branded as First To Know, the at-home screening test requires just a drop of blood and provides results within about 15 minutes, offering an early indication of a possible syphilis infection. However, any positive result must be further confirmed with laboratory testing. In a clinical trial involving 1,270 participants, the test accurately identified 99.5% of negative cases and …

The Urgent Need for STI Testing in Urgent Care Centers

Urgent Message: With STI rates rising, urgent care centers have a unique opportunity to address a pressing public health need and increase patient volumes and revenue by adding STI testing services. Citation: Ayers A. The Urgent Need for STI Testing in Urgent Care Centers. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(10)39-42 Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day.1 …

Americans Have Knowledge Gaps When It Comes to STIs

Many Americans lack information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Public Policy Center survey shows. Just over half of survey respondents (54%) know that syphilis can be cured, however, 84% incorrectly believe that a vaccine is available. As many as 30% don’t know the signs and symptoms of syphilis, including sores, swollen lymph nodes, fever, etc., but 77% know that using a condom could protect them. The incorrect responses are …

Florida Sees STIs Rise 42%

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates in Florida have surged by 42% over the past decade, surpassing levels from before the pandemic and reaching their highest point since 1990, according to Health News Florida. A leading expert in epidemiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health attributes the rise to factors such as reduced condom use, the popularity of online dating platforms, and illicit drug use. However, it’s also possible that advancements in …

Dramatic Rise in Syphilis Cases Contribute to Penicillin Shortage

Syphilis rates increased by nearly 80% between 2018 and 2022, and what’s making matters worse is the ongoing shortage of injectable penicillin, the go-to treatment for patients with syphilis. Public health agencies now are recommending providers ration the drug, according to Kaiser Health News. Pregnant patients should be prioritized first because penicillin is considered the safest treatment for the population. Doxycycline would be an appropriate drug for syphilis cases, but it’s discouraged for pregnant moms …

Rising Congenital Syphilis Trend Could Be Prevented

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported a surge in congenital syphilis cases in the United States over the past decade, with a 755% increase from 2012-2021. In 2022, there were 3,761 reported cases, leading to an increase in stillbirths, infant mortality, and severe birth defects. Most of these cases could have been prevented if mothers had received adequate testing and treatment, says the CDC. The issue disproportionately affects certain populations with …

Periostitis in secondary syphilis

Urgent message: Be on the lookout for periostitis in patients with syphilis who present with extremity pain. MAY MOHTY, MD, FAAP, FAAUCM, and CASEY PHILIPSBORN, MSIV Syphilis (from the Greek word Syphlos, meaning crippled) is an infectious disease caused by the spirochete species Treponema pallidum. Patients can present with manifestations of any of the three stages of syphilis, ranging from a painless ulcer to an asymptomatic rash, to general paresis and dementia, among a myriad …