Syphilis and HIV Infection: An Update

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 44; no. 9; pp. 1222 - 1228
• Main Authors: Zetola, Nicola M., Klausner, Jeffrey D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.05.2007; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: AIDS; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Biological and medical sciences; Contact Tracing; Epidemiology; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; General aspects; HIV; HIV infections; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - physiopathology; HIV/AIDS; Human bacterial diseases; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Incidence; Infections; Infectious diseases; Latent syphilis; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Neurosyphilis; Neurosyphilis - complications; Neurosyphilis - epidemiology; Penicillin; Penicillin G Benzathine - therapeutic use; Public health; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Syphilis; Syphilis - complications; Syphilis - diagnosis; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis - physiopathology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Infection; Immunopathology; Sexually transmitted disease; Spirochaetosis; Viral disease; Syphilis; Bacteriosis; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Treponematosis
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/513427

The striking increase in the prevalence of concordant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and syphilis observed by clinicians and public health officers over the past decade has renewed interest in the subject. Although the effect of HIV infection on the natural history of syphilis has been known for a long time, it was not until recently that several studies documented that syphilis may also impact the course of HIV infection. Despite an improved understanding of the interaction of these 2 conditions, many controversies still exist. In this article, we focus on the most recent literature describing the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of syphilis in the context of HIV infection.