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Evidence summaries

Antibiotics for Syphilis during Pregnancy

Penicillin is effective in the treatment of syphilis in pregnancy and in the prevention of congenital syphilis. Level of evidence: "A"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included no studies meeting pre-determined criteria for comparative groups and none included comparisons between randomly allocated groups of pregnant women. However, on the basis of at least 7 studies performed between 1945 and 1981, there is no doubt that penicillin is effective in the treatment of syphilis in pregnancy and in the prevention of congenital syphilis.

Comment: The quality of evidence is upgraded by strong association.

    References

    • Walker GJ. Antibiotics for syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;(3):CD001143 [Review content assessed as up-to-date: 10 January 2010]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords