USPSTF Reinforces Recommendation for Syphilis Screening During Pregnancy

All pregnant women should be screened early for syphilis infection; for high-risk women, is this enough?

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

Target Audience: Obstetric and women's healthcare providers

Background

Testing for syphilis infection (caused by Treponema pallidum) during prenatal care is routine in the U.S. and often legally mandated. This recommendation is based on the benefit derived from treatment of infected pregnant women with penicillin to prevent stillbirth and congenital syphilis in their newborns. The USPSTF has reviewed recent evidence and reaffirmed the 2009 recommendation for universal syphilis testing early in pregnancy.

Recommendations

Because nontreponemal tests (i.e., rapid plasma reagin [RPR] and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory [VDRL]) and treponemal immunoassays have substantial fals…

Reviewing Author

Anna Wald, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris

Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases

Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)