Lack of prenatal care, lack of timely or adequate testing, and insufficient treatment accounted for most cases of congenital syphilis.
Cases of congenital syphilis have surged in the U.S. from 335 in 2012 to 3761 in 2022, when 231 affected infants were stillborn and 51 died as newborns. CDC investigators analyzed the cases reported in 2022 to identify missed opportunities for prevention. Of these 3761 cases, 38% were born to women who had not received care during pregnancy.
Timely antenatal testing (defined as >30 days prior to delivery) was identified in 2179 pregnant women (58%), but only 262 (12%) of them received adequate treatment. Congenital syphilis was reported in all U.S. regions, with the highest rate in the South. Similar numbers of cases were reported among white (1034), Black (1122), and Hispanic (1104) birth parents.
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/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)
DisclosuresConsultant/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)