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How Is Syphilis Transmitted?

Posted on Mon, 15 Dec 2014

Question: I read this statement on a Medhelp Forum from a very famous STD doctor about syphilis.
"People are almost instantly rendered non-infectious by penicillin. Perhaps within a few hours of the first penicillin injection, and certainly within 24 hours, you could not have transmitted the infection -- even though any open sores or moist lesions of secondary syphilis probably still were present."

I want to know if other doctors agree

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Rarely, T pallidum has been found to persist following penicillin therapy.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking Health care magic forum.

I have gone through your query.Penicillin is the drug of choice in all stages of syphilis.There is no evidence of organisms acquiring resistance to penicillin also.But rarely, T pallidum has been found to persist following adequate penicillin therapy.So i cant agree 100% to that statement.But almost safe.
Hope this may help you.Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (2 hours later)

I understand that it is possible to fail penicillin therapy but it is very unlikly, but when it does work,does the first dosage render you non contagious after 24 hours after the first dose?

Please review these two responses from the Dr.Handsfield. A very well known STD doc in the U.S. and tell me if you are in agreement

http://XXXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes,I agree that chances of infection very unlikely.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for your follow up query.

I have read the both links. And I agree that the chances of infection after penicillin dose is very unlikely as Treponema is very sensitive to penicillin.
Hope this clears you. Let me know if anything not clear.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (10 hours later)

I am asking if you believe someone is rendered non infectious 24 hours after therapy as the two previous posts suggest? Do you agree with Dr. Handsfield with how quickly Penicillin works?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I do agree with that.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for your follow up query.

With 2.4 million units benzathine penicillin IM single dose render non infectious within 24 hour hours.I do agree to that.Primaery and secondary syphilis single dose therapy is the only treatment also.
Hope you are clear.Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

I have looked but have not found any medical literature supporting the idea that penicillin in that dosage will render you non infectious so quickly, Can you point me in the direction of medical literature that explains that.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You can see CDC guidelines.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for your follow up query.

You can't find such statements in any literature.But you can find in CDC guidelines about the single dose therapy for syphilis.Serological test usually take time to become normalized.Penicillin will go into all tissues including brain by breaking blood brain barrier.So in such case in the effective dose i mentioned it will reach all tissues fast.That is why we give penicillins for prophylactic before a surgical procedure.We just give 1 hour before surgery for such prophylaxis.
Hope you understand now how it works.Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad