The results highlight the public health value of maintaining high screening coverage and robust surveillance, even in low-incidence countries

Ulrik Lausten-Thomsen et al.

Unless it is treated timely, congenital syphilis can cause stillbirth, preterm birth, death of the neonate or can lead to serious long-term complications. This is why most European countries, including Denmark, have implemented testing programmes for pregnant people in their first trimester of pregnancy. Such antenatal screening combined with prompt antibiotic therapy when syphilis infection is detected is highly effective in preventing congenital syphilis. 

The authors also evaluated the overall national syphilis incidence for Denmark and their model showed an upward trend corresponding to a mean annual increase of around 6%. They also noted a stable trend in the prevalence of pregnancies with confirmed active syphilis infection. However, this has not translated into cases of congenital syphilis unlike in other European countries. Lausten-Thomsen et al. thus argue that this “indicates a well-functioning healthcare system providing diagnosis and treatment before pregnancy. Despite increasing syphilis notifications in the general population, including among women aged 15–49 years, we observed no temporal increase in congenital syphilis.” 

Based on their findings, Lausten-Thomsen et al. conclude the “results highlight the public health value of maintaining high screening coverage and robust surveillance, even in low-incidence countries. Continued attention to vulnerable groups and early antenatal engagement will be essential to sustain these achievements.” 

Given that Denmark met the set benchmarks for elimination of congenital syphilis for the European Region for 2025 (fewer than ten cases per 100,000 live births) and 2030 (≤ 1 case) ahead of time, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognised that the country has eliminated congenital syphilis. The data published in this paper fed into the WHO decision. 

Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control