Skip to main content
STI 2024 Prevention Conference Main banner
Final Program


Abstract Book
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.

Poster Session II: Partner Services

(P136) TRACKING THE LOCAL RISE AND FALL OF SYPHILIS CASES IN TANDEM WITH DISEASE INTERVENTION SPECIALIST RESOURCE ALLOCATION

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM EST
Background:
The City of Milwaukee experienced a rapid uptick in syphilis cases starting in 2020 and has now reported the first significant decrease in primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2023.  Syphilis’ long incubation period offers a unique opportunity to disrupt community transmission with public health intervention.  Allocation of Disease Intervention Specialist resources was markedly reduced in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  There were 3.5 DIS completing syphilis case investigations in 2020 compared to 13.5 DIS in 2023.

Methods:
Cases of primary, secondary, and latent syphilis in the City of Milwaukee are reported by year from 2018-2023.  Data was extracted from the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System and Sexually Transmitted Disease Management Information System. Data on DIS staffing was obtained from internal records and corroborated by DIS staff.

Results:
Cases of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis in the City of Milwaukee increased by 783% from 2018 to the peak in 2021. The proportion of P&S cases nearly doubled from 26% (n=52) in 2018 to 49% (n=459) in 2021 reflecting a surge in active community transmission.  Due to reduced workforce and increased morbidity, DIS caseload rose by 196% (n=175) in 2021 compared to 2018 (n=59). Increased caseloads resulted in a 59% reduction in contact tracing in 2020 (n=140) from 2019 (n=339). Increased staffing amid the peak syphilis morbidity in 2022 expanded partner follow-up (n=369) and increased preventative treatment. The proportion of P&S syphilis cases have since fallen to 34% (n=294) in 2023.

Conclusion:
Increased funding allowing the hiring of more disease intervention specialists led to expanded syphilis case management in May 2022. This expansion increased the number of contacts pursued and treated which may contribute to the 33% decline in primary and secondary syphilis cases in the City of Milwaukee from 2022 to 2023.