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. 2024 Mar 1;51(3):192-198.
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001921. Epub 2024 Jan 3.

Access to Benzathine Penicillin G Treatment for Persons With Syphilis, Maricopa County, Arizona, 2021

Elizabeth Mangone, Jonathan Bell  1 , Stephanie Devlin  1 , Renuka Khurana, Melanie M Taylor
Affiliations

Access to Benzathine Penicillin G Treatment for Persons With Syphilis, Maricopa County, Arizona, 2021

Elizabeth Mangone et al. Sex Transm Dis. .

Abstract

Background: As the incidence of syphilis continues to increase, examining benzathine penicillin G (BPG) treatment data provides valuable insight for public health strategies. This study analyzed the trends of where BPG is administered relative to the initial clinical site of syphilis diagnosis. Our findings are timely in the context of recent national BPG shortages.

Methods: The analysis included persons diagnosed with any syphilis stage in Maricopa County, Arizona, from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. The Arizona surveillance database (PRISM) was the source of demographic, testing, and treatment data.

Results: Of a total of 4028 persons with syphilis, 3038 (75.4%) received at least 1 injection of BPG. Among persons who received an initial BPG injection, only 1719 (56.6%) were diagnosed and treated at the same clinical site type. The Maricopa County Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic administered BPG to 48.8% (n = 1483) of persons with syphilis who received an initial injection.

Conclusions: Our findings analyze trends in BPG administration that are likely due to treatment referral practices and medication cost. Administration of BPG is not guaranteed at the clinical site of diagnosis, highlighting concerns regarding access to BPG. A burden is placed on patients who are required to leave their diagnosing provider to seek syphilis treatment at other health facilities that administer BPG.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest and Sources of Funding The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the public health surveillance activities, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors received no financial support for the surveillance work, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Diagnosis site type versus treatment site type among syphilis cases receiving BPG, Maricopa County, 2021. aFederal facilities: Indian Health Service and Military. bOther: blood bank, community health center, drug treatment, family planning, laboratory, mental health provider, other health department clinic (other county health departments), and school-based clinic. cSTD clinic corresponds to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health STD Clinic.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Administration of BPG at the STD clinica by diagnosing site type, Maricopa County, 2021. Note: Cases include those diagnosed at a facility outside of the STD clinic and received at least one injection BPG. aSTD clinic corresponds to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health STD Clinic. bOther health department clinics correspond to other county health departments.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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