Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Dramatic Rise in Syphilis Cases Contribute to Penicillin Shortage

Syphilis rates increased by nearly 80% between 2018 and 2022, and what’s making matters worse is the ongoing shortage of injectable penicillin, the go-to treatment for patients with syphilis. Public health agencies now are recommending providers ration the drug, according to Kaiser Health News. Pregnant patients should be prioritized first because penicillin is considered the safest treatment for the population. Doxycycline would be an appropriate drug for syphilis cases, but it’s discouraged for pregnant moms …

Rising Congenital Syphilis Trend Could Be Prevented

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported a surge in congenital syphilis cases in the United States over the past decade, with a 755% increase from 2012-2021. In 2022, there were 3,761 reported cases, leading to an increase in stillbirths, infant mortality, and severe birth defects. Most of these cases could have been prevented if mothers had received adequate testing and treatment, says the CDC. The issue disproportionately affects certain populations with …

Periostitis in secondary syphilis

Urgent message: Be on the lookout for periostitis in patients with syphilis who present with extremity pain. MAY MOHTY, MD, FAAP, FAAUCM, and CASEY PHILIPSBORN, MSIV Syphilis (from the Greek word Syphlos, meaning crippled) is an infectious disease caused by the spirochete species Treponema pallidum. Patients can present with manifestations of any of the three stages of syphilis, ranging from a painless ulcer to an asymptomatic rash, to general paresis and dementia, among a myriad …