Congenital Syphilis: Prevention Gaps & New Report Findings
A new CDC report spotlights alarming gaps in prenatal care, directly linked to rising cases of congenital syphilis. The research reveals that missed opportunities for syphilis testing and treatment during pregnancy are leading to preventable infections in newborns,and this is the central takeaway. The study,focusing on Clark County,Nevada,between 2017 and 2022,shows a strong correlation between inadequate prenatal care and the spread of syphilis among infants. Emergency department screenings are suggested as a way to improve detection rates. News Directory 3 is committed to sharing insights like this to help reduce cases of congenital syphilis. discover what’s next in preventative measures.
Nevada Congenital syphilis Cases Linked to Lack of Prenatal Care
Updated June 10, 2025
A recent CDC report underscores the critical need for improved prenatal care to combat congenital syphilis. The report highlights missed opportunities for testing and treatment among pregnant women, leading to preventable cases of the infection being passed to their babies. Congenital syphilis can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, and lifelong medical problems.
The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) analyzed congenital syphilis cases in Clark County, Nevada, from 2017 to 2022. Nevada ranked eighth nationally in reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis and congenital syphilis in 2022.
Researchers found that of 530 women in Clark County who tested positive for syphilis during pregnancy, 195 had babies with congenital syphilis. Alarmingly,only 43.1% of these women received standard prenatal care. This lack of care resulted in missed chances to diagnose and treat the infection, despite Nevada law requiring syphilis screening three times during pregnancy: at the frist prenatal visit, early in the third trimester, and at delivery.
Even among women whose babies developed congenital syphilis and who had other healthcare encounters during pregnancy, testing rates were suboptimal. Over half (57.4%) visited the emergency department at least once within 30 days of giving birth, yet only 68.4% of those visits included syphilis testing. Studies suggest that universal screening for syphilis in emergency departments could identify otherwise undetected cases.
The findings emphasize the importance of expanding syphilis screening to nontraditional settings,such as emergency departments,to improve access to prenatal care and ensure timely testing and treatment. Connecting patients who test positive to prompt care is also crucial.
The CDC estimates that timely testing and treatment during pregnancy could have prevented 88% of congenital syphilis cases in 2022, highlighting the preventability of this serious condition.
What’s next
Public health officials are urged to focus on improving access to prenatal care and expanding screening programs to reduce the incidence of congenital syphilis and protect newborns from this preventable disease.