Deskside Reference

Infectious Syphilis Management Tool available for physicians. Download and print a copy:

• Infectious Syphilis Management Tool

Overview

• The number of infectious syphilis and gonorrhea cases have increased dramatically in Alberta since 2014.
• Gonorrhea cases have more than doubled since 2014: over 5,400 cases in 2023 as compared to 1,900 cases in 2014.
• Between 2015 and 2023, over 17,000 cases have been reported in adolescents and adults and more than 280 cases in babies. Cases continue to be reported in 2024.
• Between 2015 and March 2024, there have been over 340 cases of congenital syphilis, resulting in 60 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?

• Interim STI Outbreak Screening Guidelines
• Refer to the AHS deskside reference Infectious Syphilis Management Tool

Resources

• Find an STI / Sexual Health Clinic
• Information on Syphilis Testing in Alberta
• Interpretation of Syphilis Serology
• ProvLab Syphilis Testing Algorithm
• 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
  • Ordering & Storage of Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A)
  • Adult Administration of Penicillin G Benzathine for Syphilis (video)
  • Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A) Injections (handout)
• Report and discuss partner notification from the last 3 months
  • Syphilis Assessment & History Form

Quick Reference

Resources

• Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screen (APL)
• Current State of Syphilis: The Critical Role of Primary Care (Webinar)
• Public Health Alert: Continued Syphilis and Gonorrhea Outbreak (AHS)
• Responding to Syphilis In Canada (PHAC)
• STBBI: Barriers to Screening (CME1.5) 
• Syphilis Learning Module
• Syphilis Management in Labour & Delivery Units
• Syphilis Information for Albertans

Posters

Print and post where clients can view them.

• Happy Relationship?
• Having Sex?
• Married or Single?
• Pregnant or Trying?
• Seeing Someone new?