Syphilis/antibiotics and detection

[VMGrandpa]

Sorry I inadvertently posted this to the free forum. I would appreciate a response, thank you.

A woman whom I have seen occasionally was diagnosed with syphilis. I am not sure if our last encounter was before or after she was exposed (she thinks it was before). My concern is that I have taken antibiotics for two different ailments since then. Can I get tested and know if I have antibodies etc.? I am worried I am cured now but passed it on without knowing before I took the antibiotics.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Given the timing of your exposures, if your blood test is negative, while preventative therapy is still recommended for you, you would not need to notify your other partners.  On the other hand, if your blood test were positive, then they should be notified.  EWH

[VMGrandpa]

In reading other posts, I thought it might help to know that my last encounter with the infected person was about 10-11 weeks before the dose of antibiotics, and there was no intercourse then. I am just thinking that the antibodies had time to develop, if that affects the outcome of your opinion

[VMGrandpa]

Thank you for the reply. My main concern is communicating the potential to a significant other. I rather not communicate this issue if I can rule it out. That would be a terrible result. I have not had the cancre sore associated with the disease, the last unprotected intercourse with this person was more than two years ago, and the more recent encounters were oral. Given all of the above, are saying I cannot rule it out regardless of the outcome of the test?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  If you have been exposed to a partner with recently diagnosed syphilis, you should be tested and, irrespective of the results, probably should be treated (either as therapy or preventatively) for your exposure with 2.4 million units of Benzathine penicillin G given by injection.  

Your recent antibiotics, depending on which antibiotics and when they were taken in relationship to your exposure, may or may not have affected the accuracy of blood tests for syphilis.

By the way and parenthetically, your partner did a very good thing by letting you know of your possible exposure and should be congratulated for her actions in informing you.  This allows you to take recommended precautions.  Failure to notify partners is an important contributor to the continued problems we have with syphilis in our nation.  EWH