CDC Reports Alarming Rise in Newborn Syphilis Cases, Calls for Expanded Screening and Treatment Amid Penicillin Shortage

Escalating Congenital Syphilis Cases Reflect Broader STD Crisis; Overlooked Diagnosis and Lack of Proper Treatment Mostly Blamed, as Advocacy Groups Demand More Federal Funding for Public Health Infrastructure and Call for White House Syphilis Response Coordinator.

Newborn syphilis cases have increased tenfold in the last decade, with over 3,700 reported in 2022, marking the highest number in more than 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Racial disparities are also apparent, with babies born to Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native mothers up to eight times more likely to have congenital syphilis compared to those born to white mothers.
The CDC calls for more testing outside traditional prenatal care, in places such as emergency departments, prisons, and substance use treatment facilities, as these places serve patients with limited access to healthcare who are at high risk for syphilis.
Even timely testing is found to be insufficient, as less than 12% of the congenital syphilis cases wherein the birth parent received timely testing were adequately treated, mainly due to patients not returning for a follow-up appointment.
Amidst the alarming situation, the medical community faces a shortage of Bicillin, the only recommended treatment for pregnant people and their babies. The shortage is expected to continue until mid-2024.