The Reemergence of Syphilis Clinical Pearls for Consideration

Despite the near-eradication of syphilis in the United States in the late 1990s, new infections have surged over the past 20 years. Dubbed, "the great imitator," syphilis infections often can be misdiagnosed and resultantly untreated. This leads to people inadvertently infecting others. This article reviews the history of syphilis, including the unethical studies undertaken in the past; current epidemiology; treatment guidelines; and strategies to reduce new infections.