Syphilis in Pregnancy and Congenital Syphilis

Information for health professionals on working with patients to prevent congenital syphilis.

Untreated syphilis during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight, early delivery or stillbirth, baby's death shortly after birth, and/or lifelong health problems.

Provider's Role

Scenarios

Effective prevention and detection of congenital syphilis depends on the identification of syphilis during pregnancy. For more information about pregnancy screening and treatment, please refer to the Pregnancy Syphilis Screening and Treatment Guide (PDF).

The CDC categorizes congenital syphilis within one of four scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Proven or highly probable congenital syphilis
• Scenario 2: Possible congenital syphilis
• Scenario 3: Congenital syphilis is less likely
• Scenario 4: Congenital syphilis unlikely

For questions on past and current syphilis screening, diagnosis, or treatment in pregnancy, or to report pregnant cases (including syphilitic stillbirths), call MDH at 6561-201-5414 and ask for the STI division.

For additional information and detailed scenario recommendations, please refer to the CDC's Congenital Syphilis Resources.

Guidelines

• Pregnancy Syphilis Screening Recommendations and FAQs (PDF)
  Updated congenital syphilis screening recommendations, considerations, and FAQs.
• Congenital Syphilis Provider Recommendations Letter (PDF)
  Notice for health care providers with detailed information on the updated congenital syphilis screening recommendations, endorsed by the Minnesota Affiliate of American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, and the Minnesota Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

MDH Congenital Syphilis Review Board

The Minnesota Department of Health Congenital Syphilis Review Board (CSRB) serves as an independent board to provide recommendations to reduce congenital syphilis and support patients in accessing resources and treatment. The goal is to eliminate congenital syphilis in Minnesota.

Reporting

Providers must report cases of syphilis, including congenital syphilis.

• Reporting Syphilis (lab-confirmed cases)
  Lab-confirmed cases of Syphilis (Treponema pallidum) must be reported to MDH within one working day. 
  Confidential STD Case Report Form | FAQs about STD & HIV Reporting