[Syphilis on the march. New reporting requirements].

New public health laws in Germany require the reporting of some infectious agents directly but anonymously to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Included in this group are Treponema pallidum und HIV. Reporting responsibility lies with the director of the establishment where the causative agent was identified, usually a laboratory. The doctor who submits the clinical material for diagnosis is required to support the laboratory director in obtaining relevant information. The reporting form is filled out with the available information by the laboratory, sent to the RKI and a copy is sent to the submitting physician, who provides additional information and then sends the second form to the RKI, meeting his legal responsibilities. This new reporting system has provided reliable data about syphilis infections in Germany. In order to accumulate accurate data and plan effective prevention strategies, it is essential that all physicians comply with the new regulations.