Background:
Baltimore led the nation in 1997 in the rate of Primary and Secondary syphilis. Despite significant progress in decreasing the prevalence of syphilis from 1998 – 2002 the rates were still significantly above the national rates and the goal of eliminating syphilis in the United States. The Health Department established an Outreach Team to supplement the conventional intervention activities provided by the STD Program.

Objective:
To utilize team of outreach workers to provide syphilis screening to high risk individuals located in “hot spots” identified through syphilis case investigations

Method:
An outreach team consisting of three full-time employees began testing for Syphilis and HIV, via serology, during the day and some evenings and weekends. The staff utilized an unmarked cargo van that could be easily moved within high-risk areas and a retrofitted RV for large events and evening hours. DIS and other Health Department worked the outreach during evenings and weekends. The staff also collaborated with Community Based Organizations to provide joint screening or to use their facilities to screen indoors during inclement weather.

Result:
: During the first 12 months of screening, the outreach team tested 8,179 individuals for Syphilis and HIV. Of that total number 7930 were tested for Syphilis, resulting in the identification of 7 cases of P &S , 15 early latent, and 15 cases of late or unknown duration. 7605 patients were tested for HIV, with 394 positive results

Conclusion:
The outreach efforts to screen proved to have a tremendous positive impact on disease intervention and prevention in

Implications:
Health Department outreach is an effective tool in disease prevention.