Newborn syphilis cases spike in U.S. amid gaps in maternal screening, treatment

From the University of Minnesota…

Syphilis infections passed from mothers to their newborns are at a 30-year high and have risen tenfold since 2012, and a fresh data analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that lack of timely testing and adequate treatment are the two biggest drivers and played a role in 90% of cases in 2022.

The CDC detailed its findings today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report alongside a Vital Signs report designed to focus attention on the importance of identifying the infections, which can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, and developmental disabilities.

Read the full aricle on the University of Minnesota University. To find local testing for Syphilis and other STIs, you can search for clinics at https://gettested.cdc.gov/. Most testing is free.