Syphilis among HIV-infected mothers and their infants in Texas from 1988 to 1994

Background: Syphilis was investigated in a group of HIV-infected women and their infants. Goal: To assess syphilis morbidity among HIV-infected women and their infants. Among women with syphilis during pregnancy, the risks for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis were assessed. Study Design: Through the Pediatric Spectrum of HIV Disease project, Texas infants born to HIV-infected women were identified, After the infants were matched with their mothers, it was determined which had been reported as syphilis cases. Results: In this study 18% of the HIV-infected mothers were reported as syphilis cases, most during pregnancy. Half of these mothers delivered infants (n = 49) with congenital syphilis, Inadequate prenatal care was the only significant risk for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis. The congenital syphilis rate among Texas infants of HIV-infected mothers was 48.8 per 1000 live births. Conclusion: The congenital syphilis rate among Texas infants born to HIV-infected mothers was almost 50 times that of the general population.