University of Alberta-led research released today reports that new cases of syphilis dropped in Alberta following the introduction of rapid point-of-care testing and same-day treatment.
The research team compared new syphilis positivity rates before the tests were introduced, when testing was made available in the Edmonton zone after 2020, and then once provincewide testing had started in 2022.
Rates dropped by an average of 15 per cent during the Edmonton phase and then by 25 per cent during the provincial phase, the team reports.
"This is very strong supportive evidence that point-of-care testing and treatment in affected populations has had an impact in terms of bringing those numbers down," says principal investigator Ameeta Singh, clinical professor of infectious diseases in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. "But even though we're on a downward trend, our rates are still very high."
Alberta declared a syphilis outbreak after reported cases increased 14-fold between 2014 and 2019. A sexually transmitted infection, syphilis often has only low-grade symptoms but can eventually lead to damage to the nervous system, heart or vision if left untreated.
Of particular concern is congenital syphilis, which passes from mother to fetus and can cause stillbirth or severe health issues for the baby. Between 2015 and March 2024, there were 350 cases of congenital syphilis in Alberta, resulting in 61 stillbirths.
