Congenital Syphilis—What Nurse Practitioners Need to Know

Abstract

Congenital syphilis (CS) is associated with significant negative health consequences. Rates of CS have skyrocketed in the United States and Canada since the early 2000s. Despite effective treatment with penicillin, CS rates are impacted by socioenvironmental factors that further complicate the treatment of this transmissible infection. The emergence of point-of-care syphilis testing offers novel screening and prevention modalities for rapid detection and treatment. Nurse practitioners can help prevent CS by promptly identifying and treating syphilis in pregnancy and reduce disease burden by being aware of its clinical presentation and management, including recent trends, current approaches, barriers, and facilitators to care.