Overview

• The number of infectious syphilis and gonorrhea cases have increased dramatically in Alberta since 2014.
• Gonorrhea cases have more than doubled since 2014: nearly 5,000 cases in 2020 versus 1,900 cases in 2014.
• Over 2,500 infectious syphilis cases have been reported in 2020 compared to 160 cases in 2014.
• Since 2014, there have been over 170 cases of congenital syphilis, resulting in more than 35 still births.

Key Messages

Talk

Encourage discussion about STI/HIV screening with all sexually active persons during routine office visits and consider offering STI/HIV testing to all patients as routine care.

• How to discuss sexual health, substance use and STBBIs.

Test

Who should be tested?

• Refer to the AHS deskside reference Infectious Syphilis Management Tool

Resources

• Find an STI / Sexual Health Clinic
• Information on Syphilis Testing in Alberta (Public Health Laboratory)
• Interpretation of Syphilis Serology (Public Health Laboratory)
• Public Health Notifiable Disease Management Guidelines: Syphilis

Treat

All cases of syphilis should be managed in consultation with STI Centralized Services.

• Provide treatment
  • Alberta Treatment Guidelines
• To access Bicillin® contact STI Centralized Services
  • Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A) Injections
• Report and discuss partner notification from the last 3 months
  • Notification of STI form

Information for Albertans