The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) published updated recommendations for “Screening for Syphilis Infection in Pregnant Women.” The recommendation statement reaffirmed the USPSTF’s prior recommendation from 2009 and gave the recommendation that early screening for syphilis occur in all pregnant women an “A” grade. This means that there is convincing evidence that screening pregnant people for syphilis provides a substantial benefit by reducing the incidence of congenital syphilis and the adverse outcomes of pregnancy associated with maternal infection and advises clinicians to offer or provide the service.
This recommendation is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation on screening for syphilis at the first prenatal visit and includes the joint guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommending repeat screening for those pregnant individuals at high-risk for syphilis infection including those who have had exposure to an infected partner.
