Most STIs are easy to treat, and testing is fast and easy.
Congenital syphilis (CS)āÆis an infection transmitted from pregnant person to child during pregnancy and/or delivery caused by the bacteriumāÆTreponema pallidum. CS can cause severe illness in infants including premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, blindness, and hearing loss. It can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death shortly after delivery. Tests and treatment for pregnant people are readily available.
Increases in CS cases appearing to be slowing in some areas, however, there are nearly five times more CS cases in California now than there were in 2014. From 2014 to 2023, female all stages syphilis cases increased over 545 percent and CS cases increased 394 percent, from 104 cases in 2014 to 514 cases in 2023. According to the U.S. CDC, California had the 13th highest congenital syphilis rate of all states in 2023. Thirty-seven (60.7 percent) of Californiaās 61 local health jurisdictions reported at least one case of congenital syphilis in 2023. Most pregnant females who gave birth to infants with CS received prenatal care late in pregnancy or not at all. ā
Included below are CS specific resources for providers, local health jurisdictions, field investigation, and the public + CS data and surveillance information. General information on syphilis can be found on the California Department of Public Health STD Control Branch syphilis webpage.ā
CLIA-Waived Syphilis Point-of-Care Testing Options for Providers (PDF)āāā
āCalifornia Department of Public Health (CDPH) Updates Syphilis Screening Recommendations (10/14/24)ā ā
āāEmergency Department Screening and Treatment for Syphlis
āConsiderations for the Implementation of Point of Care Tests for Syphilis (PDF) (hhs.gov)ā
Clinical Interpretation of Syphilis Screening Algorithms (PDF)(californiaptc.com)
Pregnancy and Substance Use: A Harm Reduction Toolkitā
CDPH Dear Colleague Letter - Opt-Out ED Screening for HIV, HCV, and Syphilis (3/28/22) (PDF)
Dear Colleague Letter: Call to Expand HIV and Syphilis Testing for Pregnant Women (PDF)ā
Key Finding Spotlight: Implementation of Expanded Syphilis Screening Protocols in California Family Planning Clinicsā (PDF)ā
Screening for Syphilis in Emergency Departments Implementation Guide
Syphilis in Pregnancy Pocket Guide (PDF)
Evaluating Infants for Congenital Syphilis (PDF)
Congenital Syphilis Update for California Health Care Providers (PDF)
Use of Treponemal Immunoassays for the Screening and Diagnosis of Syphilis: Guidance for Medical Providers and Laboratories in California (PDF)**
Syphilis Pocket Guide - CDC (PDF, 44MB)
Penicillin Allergy Factsheet - CDC (PDF)
Medscape and CDC Vidāeo - A Devastating Surge in Congenital Syphilis: How Can We Stop It?
CDPH STD Clinical Guidelines
California STI Treatment Recommendations in Pregnancy
California STI/HIV Screening Recommendations in Pregnancy
STD Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (CDC)
California Prevention Training Center (PTC)
āEvaluating Patients for Primary Syphilis (PDF)
Evaluating Patients for Secondary Syphilis (PDF)
CA PTC Webinars on Syphilis
STD Clinical Consultation Network (STDCCN) website and postcard (PDF, 1.12 MB)
National STD Curriculum website and postcard (PDF)
CDC STD Programā
**Please note, the STI treatment guidelines and syphilis screening recommendations referenced in this document are out of date. Please refer to the 2021 STI Treatment guidelines for the current treatment regimens, and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Updates Syphilis Screening Recommendations.ā
Note: Please check our archive webpage for additional Dear Colleague Letters, Health Alerts and Recommendations, and All Facility Letters.ā
A Prenatal Care Model for Congenital Syphilis Prevention: The Pregnancy Connections Clinic Guide (PDF)
Congenital Syphilis One-Pagerā (PDF)ā
Emerging Practices for Responding to the Congenital Syphilis Crisis in California: Findings from 2021 Strategy Sesāāsionāsā (PDF)
Screening for HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis in Emergency Departments Implementation Guide
Congenital Syphilis Prevention Guidance for CA Local Health Jurisdictions (PDF)
Congenital Syphilis Morbidity & Mortality Review Toolkitā (PDF)ā
Provider Detailing for STD Prevention
Health Care Provider Visit Data Summary Resource (PPTX)
Pregnancy Planning and Syphilis Educational Material (PDF) [contact stdcb@cdph.ca.gov to customize with local contact information]
Pregnancy Intention + Contraceptive Information: Interactions for Reducing Congenital Syphilis Training (Essential Access Health)
Protect Yourself and Your Baby from Syphilis [contact stdcb@cdph.ca.gov to customize with local contact information]
Protect Yourself and Your Baby from Syphilis - One Pager (PDF) (English)
Protect Yourself and Your Baby from Syphilis - One Pager (PDF) (Spanishā)
Protect Yourself and Your Baby from Syphilis - Two Pager (PDF) (English)
Protect Yourself and Your Baby from Syphilis - Two Pager (PDF) (Spanish)
California Congenital Syphilis Surveillance and Case Management Guidelines (PDF)
Syphilis Reactor Algorithm and Charts (PDF)
STD Control Branch: CalREDIE Resources + CalREDIE Help Page
Note: Please check the CalREDIE Repository for additional resources for field investigation.
Syphilis is on the Rise in California Babies Infographic (PDF) (English)
Syphilis is on the Rise in California Babies Infographic (PDF) (Spanishā)
Syphilis in Pregnancy - Get Tested Poster (PDF) (English)
Syphilis in Pregnancy - Get Tested Poster (PDF) ā(Spanish)
Syphilis in Pregnancy - Get Tested Flyer (PDF) (English)
Syphilis in Pregnancy - Get Tested āFlyer (PDF)ā (Spanishā)
Protect Your Baby from Syphilis Poster (PDF) (English)
Protect Your Baby from Syphilis Poster (PDF) (Spanish)
Perinatal Communicable Disease Educational Material for Pregnant People (PDF) (English)
Perinatal Communicable Disease Educational Material for Pregnant People (PDF) (Spanish)
STDs During Pregnancy Fact Sheet (CDC) (English)
STDs During Pregnancy Fact Sheet (CDC) (Spanish)
Congenital Syphilis Fact Sheet (CDC)
Syphilis Fact Sheet (CDC) (English)
Syphilis Fact Sheet (CDC) (Spanish)
Protect Your Baby from Syphilis Infographic (March of Dimes) (English)
Protect Your Baby from Syphilis Infographic (March of Dimes) (Spanish)