SYPHILIS RESOURCES

SYPHILIS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES:

Syphilis cases are rising across Ohio among adults as well as newborns of infected mothers, and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is asking healthcare providers to help reverse this trend.

Data through December 2021 suggests total syphilis cases increased 96.3% over a three-year period from 2,015 cases in 2019 to 3,955 cases in 2021. Over the same three-year period, congenital syphilis (CS) cases increased 157.9% from 19 cases in 2019 to 49 cases in 2021. In 2022, the state surpassed 2021 CS case counts by July. Congenital syphilis cases can cause a range of other medical conditions and lead to low birth weight, long bone deformities, developmental delays, prematurity, miscarriage, stillbirth, and death.

 “There are some key steps that healthcare providers can take to help reverse rising syphilis cases in Ohio,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA.

• Implement third trimester screening for syphilis for pregnant individuals as a standard of care to prevent congenital syphilis – While Ohio law mandates syphilis screening at the first prenatal visit, it may not be sufficient for those at increased risk. It is recommended that pregnant individuals be screened again at 28 weeks gestation to identify and treat syphilis prior to delivery to prevent congenital syphilis and a final syphilis screening be conducted at delivery.

• Consult the Ohio Syphilis in Pregnancy Warmline – This free consultative service provides practicing clinicians within Ohio with prompt, expert consultation on clinical questions in individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding or of pregnancy potential. It is staffed by experienced physicians and nurse practitioners through the University of Toledo Medical Center.