Increasing rates of congenital syphilis (CS) in the United States may indicate inadequate access to prenatal care, including screening among vulnerable women, according to a study published Nov. 13 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CS has serious consequences, including death, but is largely preventable with proper identification of maternal infection and treatment with penicillin before birth. Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed national surveillance data (2008 to 2014) to calculate rate and identify demographic and clinical characteristics of infants with CS and their mothers. CDC Syphilis Testing Recommendations The CDC recommends that syphilis screening includes: All pregnant women at their first prenatal visit. Repeat screening at the beginning of the third trimester and at delivery for women at increased risk (including living in high-morbidity geographic areas). Rapid plasma reagin screening at the time that a pregnancy is confirmed, if access to prenatal care is sub-optimal. Determining syphilis serologic status of the mother before newborn discharge, if not assessed during pregnancy or delivery. Testing of any woman who delivers a stillborn infant. Data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System shows that the overall rate of reported CS decreased from 10.5 to 8.4 cases […]