Congenital Syphilis

Congenital syphilis can be transmitted from mother to infant during pregnancy and/or delivery and can cause severe complications including premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, blindness, hearing loss, stillbirth and infant death. California has experienced a steep increase in syphilis infection among pregnant women in recent years and a subsequent rise in the number of cases of congenital syphilis among infants. 

The California Department of Public Health's Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Branch maintains information and resources about congenital syphilis for hospitals and providers on their website. Key resources for health providers are also flagged below. For more information about these resources or to request hard copies, contact Ashley Dockter at the California Department of Public Health at Ashley.Dockter@cdph.ca.gov.

Key Congenital Syphilis Resources for Health Providers:

• Congenital Syphilis Update for California Health Care Providers (PDF)
• Syphilis in Pregnancy Pocket Card (PDF)
• Evaluating Infants for Congenital Syphilis (PDF)
• California STD Screening and Treatment Recommendations in Pregnancy, 2017 (PDF)
• CDC Syphilis Pocket Guide (PDF)
• CDC Penicillin Allergy Factsheet (PDF)
• Medscape and CDC Video - A Devastating Surge in Congenital Syphilis: How Can We Stop It?
• CDC STD Treatment Guidelines
• California Prevention Training Center (PTC)
  • Evaluating Patients for Primary Syphilis (PDF)
  • Evaluating Patients for Secondary Syphilis (PDF)
  • CA PTC Webinars on Syphilis (PDF)
• STD Clinical Consultation Network (STDCCN) website and postcard
• National STD Curriculum website and postcard (PDF)