ROUTINE ANTENATAL SCREENING FOR SYPHILIS IN LOTHIAN - A STUDY OF THE RESULTS 1988 TO 1994

A retrospective study was carried out of the cases of positive syphili s serology detected by routine antenatal screening within Edinburgh (a nd surrounding district) over the six years 1988 to 1994. The study de monstrated a low incidence of syphilis with only 15 pregnancies in 58, 445 screened, In eight cases serology and history were suggestive of l ate latent syphilis and in the remainder of previous infection which h ad been treated, Ail women were delivered of liveborn infants at term without stigmata of congenital syphilis, Lack of identifiable risk fac tors in women with positive serology suggests that routine rather than selective screening should continue.