Exposure of sexual partners to syphilis
Syphilis is contracted through contact, including sexual contact, with an open sore (chancre) or skin rash caused by syphilis. Sores are less common after the first year of infection.
Sex partners of a person who has syphilis in any stage should be evaluated using tests for syphilis.1 Antibiotic treatment is recommended for all exposed partners.
If a person was exposed (has had sexual contact with a person who has syphilis) within the past 90 days, blood tests may come back negative even though he or she may be infected. Treatment is usually recommended even if the blood test is negative.
Long-term sex partners of persons with late syphilis should be tested for syphilis and treated if blood tests are positive.
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW | Last Updated: October 2, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease | |
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