Syphilis Tools

The Syphilis Tools application is designed to give health care professionals, public health workers, and medical trainees relevant information and tools to help diagnose, treat, and prevent syphilis. Content is based on CDC STI Treatment Guidelines. It was developed for the National STD Curriculum (NSTDC) by the University of Washington Infectious Diseases Education & Assessment (IDEA) Program. The application addresses six primary areas: Screening: Information on screening recommendations for various patient populations. The Geographic Risk Tool allows users to quickly find county-level rates of primary and secondary syphilis in the United States and view syphilis screening recommendations. Serologic Testing: Users learn about the variety of tests and how to choose the appropriate test to order; interpret serologic tests results; and test cerebrospinal fluid. Reference materials for interpreting traditional and reverse syphilis screening algorithms are available. To help explain syphilis in a person with prior treatment, the Nontreponemal Titer Tool compares pretreatment and current treatment RPR or VDRL titers and interprets the results. Staging: Clinical criteria for understanding primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary syphilis and how to stage a patient. To help identify different manifestations, scientifically accurate medical illustrations are embedded in various sections. Treatment: Educational summaries of guideline-based medication regimens to treat stages and types of syphilis. How to treat individuals who are penicillin-allergic and/or pregnant are also addressed. Users can select multiple stages and types to explore the potential impacts on possible treatment regimens. Monitoring: Reference information on evaluating serologic response and titer changes. Users can select RPR or VDRL titers and review possible test interpretations via the Nontreponemal Titer Tool. Partner Management: Educational materials and guidance regarding the management of symptomatic and asymptomatic partners of persons diagnosed with syphilis. Features: • Content based directly on CDC STI Treatment Guidelines • Offline accessibility for use in environments without internet connection • Plain-text summaries and reference materials • Tools to help determine county-base geographic risk and compare changes in titers before and during treatment The application links to the National Network of STD Clinical Consultation Service which provides consultations for licensed healthcare professionals and STD program staff.