WASHINGTON: The United States has witnessed a more than tenfold increase in newborns with syphilis over the past decade, a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday.
In 2022, the CDC recorded 3,761 cases, marking the highest number in over 30 years, a significant surge from 334 cases in 2012. Among the cases in 2022, there were 231 stillbirths and 51 infant deaths.
Laura Bachmann, the chief medical officer of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, noted that nine out of 10 cases could have potentially been prevented through timely testing and treatment during pregnancy.
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection, can lead to severe health issues if left untreated. During pregnancy, it poses risks such as stillbirth, miscarriage, infant death, and maternal and infant morbidity.
Bachmann emphasized that prompt treatment could address some of the key challenges faced by mothers in need of care. Congenital syphilis occurs when a mother with syphilis transmits the infection to her baby during pregnancy.
To minimize perinatal transmission, the CDC recommends screening for syphilis during the first prenatal care visit. The CDC specifies that benzathine penicillin G is the sole recommended treatment for syphilis during pregnancy, administered as a single-dose injection or three doses spaced seven to nine days apart, depending on the infection stage.
