Syphilis surge drives USPSTF reaffirmation of early screening for all pregnant women

I strongly concur with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation on early screening for syphilis infection in all pregnant women. There is benefit to screening all women for syphilis in early pregnancy given the risks of miscarriage, congenital syphilis, and maternal illness – if untreated. Additionally, in women who live in high prevalence areas or with high-risk behaviors for acquiring syphilis, testing should be performed again in the third trimester and at delivery. Also, all women with a fetal death after 20 weeks should be tested or retested if testing was done earlier in pregnancy.

Martina Badell, MD , is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Emory University and director of the Emory University Hospital Midtown Perinatal Center, both in Atlanta. Dr. Badell reported no relevant financial conflicts. She was asked to comment on the USPSTF recommendation.