A retrospective cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of syphilis infection among patients tested at a Durban-based Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.

Nomzamo Minenhle Ndebele; Khethiwe Nomcebo Bhengu; Phumzile Sikosana

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2308

Authors

Nomzamo Minenhle Ndebele Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Applied and Health Science, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
Khethiwe Nomcebo Bhengu Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Applied and Health Science, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
Phumzile Yvonne Sikosana Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Applied and Health Science, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2308

Keywords:

Syphilis, Sexually transmitted infections, prevalence, venereal, reactive plasma reagin, Treponema pallidum, Treponema Pallidum Haemagglutination Assay

Abstract

Background

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, which can be transmitted congenitally by a pregnant mother to a fetus. Globally, syphilis remains a significant public health challenge due to its high transmissibility and severe complications when untreated, including neurological, cardiovascular, and systemic morbidity. Diagnosis involves the use of non-treponemal tests, including Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) assays, followed by confirmatory treponemal tests. Penicillin is the antibiotic of choice, exerting its therapeutic effect by disrupting the bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Aim

To investigate the prevalence of syphilis among patients tested at a Durban-based hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.

Methodology

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using routine laboratory data containing RPR and TPHA results from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) for the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Permission to access and use the data was obtained from the NHLS Academic Affairs and Research Management System (AARMS). A total of 500 patient records were analysed using descriptive statistical methods.

Results

Results revealed that the prevalence of syphilis infection was 24% (122/500) from RPR screening results. Confirmatory TPHA testing showed that syphilis prevalence is highest among females (n=43; 59.7%) and adults aged 18-39 years (n=45; 62.5%), indicating a disproportionate burden among women of childbearing age.

Conclusion

The study disclosed a substantial prevalence of syphilis, with a noteworthy concentration of cases among women of childbearing age (18-39 years), further posing a risk of congenital transmission.

Recommendations

These findings suggest that targeted health interventions, including awareness and prevention programmes, are essential for these high-risk groups. Further studies should involve larger, multi-centre studies across KwaZulu-Natal rather than focusing on a single hospital to provide more representative data.

Author Biographies

Nomzamo Minenhle Ndebele, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Applied and Health Science, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

is a registered Medical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Pathology Independent Practice) with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). She obtained her Bachelor of Health Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Mangosuthu University of Technology, specialising in Clinical Pathology, and is currently employed as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at PathCare. She is driven by a strong passion for healthcare, which motivates her commitment to high-quality diagnostic practice, quality assurance, and the delivery of accurate, reliable laboratory services that support effective patient care within clinical healthcare settings. Her research interests are dedicated to infectious diseases and their impact on public health outcomes.

Khethiwe Nomcebo Bhengu, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Applied and Health Science, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

is a Medical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Pathology Independent Practice) and Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Mangosuthu University of Technology, and a Research Scientist affiliated with the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Before her academic appointment, she served as Laboratory Manager for the Biomedical Science Department’s training laboratory, which achieved accreditation from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for its professional training programs. Her research interests encompass infectious diseases, immunology, sexually transmitted infections, and non-communicable diseases, with a particular focus on advancing diagnostic science and enhancing health outcomes in resource-limited settings.

Phumzile Yvonne Sikosana, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Applied and Health Science, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

is a registered Medical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Pathology Independent Practice) with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and a Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Mangosuthu University of Technology. She brings extensive expertise across diagnostic, academic, and clinical trial laboratory settings. Her primary research focuses on communicable and non-communicable diseases and indigenous knowledge systems. Ms. Sikosana actively advocates for enhancing student medical laboratory scientist exposure to advanced diagnostic procedures, including the integration of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, she makes immense contributions to career guidance and recruitment in the STEM field, specifically targeting youth from disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4745-3491

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