Spike in newborn syphilis cases has experts issuing new recommendations. What to know

Syphilis cases in the U.S. have spiked in the last decade, and congenital syphilis —an infection babies contract from their mothers during pregnancy — is surging, according to The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.

In response, ACOG issued new guidelines on April 18 for doctors and those who provide care to pregnant mothers.

“There has been a near eightfold increase in congenital syphilis cases in the last decade or more,” said Christopher Zahn of ACOG.

Congenital syphilis can cause miscarriage and stillbirth or serious health issues for the baby after birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Babies can be born with deformed bones and brain and nerve problems, the CDC says.

Syphilis is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease spread through direct contact with a syphilitic sore. If left untreated, syphilis can eventually attack a person’s organs and nervous system, resulting in blindness and deafness.

People with syphilis can also transmit the infection to their unborn baby during pregnancy.

ACOG recommends providers now screen all pregnant patients for syphilis via a blood test three times throughout their pregnancy.

The new guidelines are a major pivot from old recommendations that suggested screening only for patients who seemed at higher risk, such as those who lived in communities with elevated rates of the disease.

“ACOG’s new guidance will no longer follow an individualized risk-based approach to testing later in pregnancy and instead help ensure more opportunities for testing and treatment,” Zahn said.

The reason for this approach is that our nationwide wave of congenital syphilis is avoidable, according to experts.

“Congenital syphilis can have devastating effects. We know that a majority of cases can be prevented, so additional routine screening during pregnancy is one important step that clinicians can take that could potentially be lifesaving,” Zahn said.