U.S. panel reaffirms syphilis screening advice as infections rise

By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - Doctors should offer testing for syphilis to men who have sex with men, people living with HIV and others at an increased risk of the sexually transmitted disease, a U.S. government-backed panel recommended on Tuesday. The recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reaffirms its 2004 guidelines. "It’s a great opportunity for primary care clinicians to identify people who are at a higher risk to be counseled about prevention and treated if needed," said Ann Kurth, a member of the USPSTF and the dean of the Yale School of Nursing in Orange, Connecticut.