Syphilis in Babies Reflects Health System Failures

By improving access to syphilis testing and treatment for everyone, we can prevent syphilis in babies and advance health equity.

• Consider geographic risk in addition to individual behaviors to reduce stigma and bias in syphilis screening.
  • For many people, the most significant risk factor for syphilis is living in a community with high rates of syphilis, not individual risk factors.
    • Offering syphilis screening to sexually active people 15-44 years of age in counties with a high rate of syphilis among women of reproductive age may help identify and prevent the spread of syphilis (the Healthy People 2030 goal for reducing syphilis among women of reproductive age is 4.6 per 100,000).
  • Identifying and preventing syphilis before pregnancy can minimize illness during pregnancy and prevent newborn syphilis.

• Make any healthcare encounter during pregnancy an opportunity to treat and prevent newborn syphilis.
  • Meet people where they are during pregnancy with syphilis testing and treatment, including outside of usual prenatal care settings.
  • Emergency departments, jails, syringe services programs, and maternal and child health programs play a role in identifying and treating syphilis among people who do not receive adequate prenatal care.

• Ensure all people get the treatment they need.
  • Rapid syphilis tests (points of care tests) offer opportunities to test and treat at the same time.
    • This is especially needed for people who might not see a healthcare provider regularly during pregnancy and who may face barriers to coming back for treatment.
  • Local disease intervention specialists, who are public health professionals trained to prevent and contain infectious diseases, also play a vital role in reaching out in communities and ensuring people are diagnosed and treated.