1
|
Callado GY, Gutfreund MC, Pardo I, Hsieh MK, Lin V, Sampson MM, Nava GR, Marins TA, Deliberato RO, Martino MDV, Holubar M, Salinas JL, Marra AR. Syphilis Treatment: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Investigating Nonpenicillin Therapeutic Strategies. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae142. [PMID: 38595955 PMCID: PMC11002953 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Penicillin's long-standing role as the reference standard in syphilis treatment has led to global reliance. However, this dependence presents challenges, prompting the need for alternative strategies. We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of these alternative treatments against nonneurological syphilis. Methods We searched MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science from database inception to 28 August 2023, and we included studies that compared penicillin or amoxicillin monotherapy to other treatments for the management of nonneurological syphilis. Our primary outcome was serological cure rates. Random-effect models were used to obtain pooled mean differences, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test. Results Of 6478 screened studies, 27 met the inclusion criteria, summing 6710 patients. The studies were considerably homogeneous, and stratified analyses considering each alternative treatment separately revealed that penicillin monotherapy did not outperform ceftriaxone (pooled odds ratio, 1.66 [95% confidence interval, .97-2.84]; I2 = 0%), azithromycin (0.92; [.73-1.18]; I2 = 0%), or doxycycline (0.82 [.61-1.10]; I2 = 1%) monotherapies with respect to serological conversion. Conclusions Alternative treatment strategies have serological cure rates equivalent to penicillin, potentially reducing global dependence on this antibiotic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Yano Callado
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Celidonio Gutfreund
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabele Pardo
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Kim Hsieh
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vivian Lin
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mindy Marie Sampson
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Guillermo Rodriguez Nava
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Tássia Aporta Marins
- Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Universitário de Adamantina, Adamantina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Octávio Deliberato
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Biomedical Informatics Division, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Marinês Dalla Valle Martino
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marisa Holubar
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jorge L Salinas
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Alexandre R Marra
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu TY, Lin KY, Su LH, Sun HY, Huang YS, Liu WD, Liu WC, Chang LH, Chang SY, Hung CC. Sexually transmitted coinfections among at-risk HIV-positive MSM: implications for optimal preemptive treatment. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1328589. [PMID: 38560383 PMCID: PMC10978595 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1328589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in sexually active populations. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and coinfection rates of bacterial STIs among sexually active, HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and to assess the potential benefits of different combination treatment regimens in managing concurrent bacterial STIs. Methods From September 2021 to September 2023, HIV-positive MSM underwent STI testing when they had symptoms suggestive of STIs or recently acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or early syphilis. The oral rinse, rectal swab, and urethral swab specimens were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma spp., Ureaplasma spp., and Trichomonas vaginalis with the use of multiplex real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assays. The estimated coinfection rates were used to evaluate the benefits of different combination treatment regimens for managing coinfections. Results During the study period, 535 participants (median age, 37 years; and CD4 count, 615 cells/mm3) were enrolled. On their first visits, at least one bacterial pathogen was detected in 57.9% and concomitant bacterial infections were found in 32.9% of the participants. The most commonly identified pathogen was U. urealyticum (36.3%), followed by C. trachomatis (22.8%), and N. gonorrhoeae (19.8%). The factors associated with any bacterial STIs included older age (per 1-year increase, adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.00), early syphilis (AOR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.22-2.84), and having more than 5 sex partners in the preceding 3 months (AOR, 2.08, 95% CI, 1.07-4.06). A combination therapy of benzathine penicillin G with a 7-day course of doxycycline could simultaneously treat 27.1% of C. trachomatis coinfections in participants with early syphilis, while a combination therapy of ceftriaxone with doxycycline could simultaneously treat 40.6% of chlamydial coinfections in participants with gonorrhea. Conclusion Bacterial STIs were prevalent and concomitant infections were not uncommon among sexually active, HIV-positive MSM, supporting regular screening for bacterial STIs. The effectiveness of preemptive use of doxycycline as combination therapy for concurrent STIs warrants more investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tzong-Yow Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Yin Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsin Su
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yun Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Shan Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wang-Da Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chun Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lan-Hsin Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Yuan Chang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ching Hung
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xiong S, Liu Z, Zhang X, Huang S, Ding X, Zhou J, Yao J, Li W, Liu S, Zhao F. Resurgence of syphilis: focusing on emerging clinical strategies and preclinical models. J Transl Med 2023; 21:917. [PMID: 38105236 PMCID: PMC10726518 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04685-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum), has had a worldwide resurgence in recent years and remains a public health threat. As such, there has been a great deal of research into clinical strategies for the disease, including diagnostic biomarkers and possible strategies for treatment and prevention. Although serological testing remains the predominant laboratory diagnostic method for syphilis, it is worth noting that investigations pertaining to the DNA of T. pallidum, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), chemokines, and metabolites in peripheral blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and other bodily fluids have the potential to offer novel perspectives on the diagnosis of syphilis. In addition, the global spread of antibiotic resistance, such as macrolides and tetracyclines, has posed significant challenges for the treatment of syphilis. Fortunately, there is still no evidence of penicillin resistance. Hence, penicillin is the recommended course of treatment for syphilis, whereas doxycycline, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and amoxicillin are viable alternative options. In recent years, efforts to discover a vaccine for syphilis have been reignited with better knowledge of the repertoire of T. pallidum outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which are the most probable syphilis vaccine candidates. However, research on therapeutic interventions and vaccine development for human subjects is limited due to practical and ethical considerations. Thus, the preclinical model is ideal for conducting research, and it plays an important role in clinical transformation. Different preclinical models have recently emerged, such as in vitro culture and mouse models, which will lay a solid foundation for clinical treatment and prevention of syphilis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent syphilis tactics, including detection, drug resistance treatments, vaccine development, and preclinical models in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shun Xiong
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhaoping Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Shaobin Huang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xuan Ding
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Jiangchen Yao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Weiwei Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Shuangquan Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institution of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institution of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| |
Collapse
|