Screen Pregnant Women for Syphilis, USPSTF Reaffirms

Screen all pregnant women for syphilis, preferably at their first prenatal visit, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reaffirms in Annals of Internal Medicine. According to one study, almost 15% of U.S. obstetricians/gynecologists do not routinely screen pregnant women for syphilis.

The USPSTF engaged researchers to find published evidence updating its 2004 recommendation. No evidence contradicting the recommendation was found, and a study among women in China found a decrease in congenital syphilis after implementation of a screening program.