A coalition of doctors are sounding the alarm on the need for increased syphilis testing for pregnant individuals, amid a recent surge of the sexually transmitted infection in U.S. newborns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published new guidance<\/u><\/a> Thursday, recommending doctors screen pregnant individuals for syphilis three times during pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obstetricians, gynecologists and other obstetric care professionals are now advised to screen all pregnant individuals for syphilis at the first prenatal care visit, during the third trimester and again at birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Previous guidance recommended risk-based testing in the third trimester for those living in communities with high syphilis rates and for those at risk of acquiring the infection during pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere has been a near eightfold increase in congenital syphilis cases in the last decade or more, and from a public health perspective, we recognize that obstetrician\u2013gynecologists and other obstetric care clinicians play a critical role,\u201d Christopher Zahn, a fellow of ACOG, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zahn said a timely diagnosis and treatment are \u201ckey\u201d to reducing syphilis rates, noting the \u201cmajority\u201d of cases can be prevented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection<\/u><\/a> that can be contracted through direct contact with a sore, or through casual contact with objects like toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, shared clothing or utensils. The infection can also spread from a pregnant person to a fetus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than 3,700 babies were born with congenital syphilis<\/u><\/a> in 2022, marking the most cases in more than 30 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its full advisory,<\/u><\/a> the doctors coalition pointed to the CDC\u2019s finding that nearly 9 in 10 congenital syphilis cases \u201ccould have been prevented with timely screening and treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Syphilis transmission to a fetus can lead to the baby having a low birth weight, and it increases the chances the mother will deliver too early or have a stillborn or miscarriage, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At birth, a babies might not have signs or symptoms of the disease, but if they do not receive treatment, they can develop health issues within a few weeks. These problems include cataracts, deafness, seizures or death, the CDC added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Benzathine penicillin G is the preferred treatment for syphilis during pregnancy, though the drug has been in short supply since last year<\/u><\/a>. Pfizer, which is the only company manufacturing the drug, said last year it would take until at least the second quarter of 2024 to increase production enough to end the shortage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n