Colorado has seen a significant increase in congenital syphilis cases, with over 50 reported in 2023, marking an increase of more than 7 times compared to the number of cases in 2018. In response to this epidemic, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has rallied his administration for a comprehensive response aimed at saving the lives of babies threatened by syphilis and congenital syphilis.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a public health order on April 18, 2024, declaring the epidemic and expanding testing opportunities for pregnant individuals. The order requires healthcare providers to offer syphilis testing during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, at delivery, when there is a fetal death after 20 weeks of gestation, at correctional facilities, and when a patient who is pregnant presents to urgent care during these intervals.
Congenital syphilis can cause severe health conditions for babies such as bone deformities, severe anemia or brain and nerve problems. Forty percent of babies with untreated congenital syphilis may be stillborn or die from the infection.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends doctors screen pregnant individuals for syphilis three times during pregnancy: at the first prenatal care visit, during the third trimester, and again at birth. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can spread from a pregnant person to a fetus.
There has been an increase of over 3,700 cases of congenital syphilis in 2022, the most cases in more than 30 years. Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial for reducing syphilis rates and preventing congenital syphilis. Syphilis transmission to a fetus can lead to low birth weight, premature delivery, stillbirth or miscarriage.
Benzathine penicillin G is the preferred treatment for syphilis during pregnancy but has been in short supply since last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that nearly 9 in 10 congenital syphilis cases could have been prevented with timely screening and treatment.
