Clinical Summary of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation
This document is a summary of the 2009 recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on screening for syphilis infection in pregnant women. This summary is intended for use by primary care clinicians.
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This summary was first published in Annals of Internal Medicine in May 2009 (Ann Intern Med 2009;150:707. http://www.annals.org).
| Population |
All Pregnant Women |
| Recommendation |
Screen for syphilis infection. |
| Grade: A |
| Screening Tests |
Nontreponemal tests commonly used for initial screening include:
- Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL)
- Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
Confirmatory tests include:
- Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-ABS)
- Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA)
|
| Timing of Screening |
Test all pregnant women at the first prenatal visit. |
| Other Clinical Considerations |
Most organizations recommend testing high-risk women again during the third trimester and at delivery.
Groups at increased risk include:
- Uninsured women
- Women living in poverty
- Sex workers
- Illicit drug users
- Those diagnosed with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Other women living in communities with high syphilis morbidity
Prevalence is higher in southern U.S. and in metropolitan areas and in Hispanic and African American populations.
|
| Interventions |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends treatment with parenteral benzathine penicillin G.
Women with penicillin allergies should be desensitized and treated with penicillin.
Consult the CDC for the most up-to-date recommendations: http://ww.cdc.gov/std/treatment/
|
| Relevant USPSTF Recommendations |
Recommendations on screening for other STDs, and on counseling for STDs, can be found at http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov. |
For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making these recommendations, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents please go to http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.
Disclaimer: Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Copyright and Source Information
This document is in the public domain within the United States. For information on reprinting, contact Randie Siegel, Associate Director, Office of Communications and Knowledge Transfer, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850.
Requests for linking or to incorporate content in electronic resources should be sent to: info@ahrq.gov.
AHRQ Publication No. 09-05133-EF-2
Current as of May 2009
Internet Citation:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Syphilis Infection in Pregnancy: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Clinical Summary. AHRQ Publication No. 09-05133-EF-2, May 2009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf09/syphilis/syphpgsum.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850