Mecklenburg County Public Health has issued a public health advisory warning pregnant women and healthcare providers about the increased risk of congenital syphilis. This follows a nationwide shortage of Bicillin L-A (penicillin G benzathine), which is the only recommended treatment for syphilis during pregnancy.
“Every case of congenital syphilis is preventable, but timely testing and receiving adequate treatment are critical,” said Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington. “The national shortage of Bicillin L-A is a serious threat to ensuring all pregnant patients receive timely syphilis treatment. We are urging all pregnant women to make sure they get tested for syphilis and take steps to reduce their risk of exposure. It is equally imperative that all healthcare providers reserve available Bicillin L-A for pregnant patients only.”
According to local officials, Mecklenburg County has experienced an increase in syphilis infections among women who can become pregnant, reflecting trends seen across North Carolina and the United States. Recent data indicates some progress in reducing infections, but there are concerns that the ongoing medication shortage could reverse these gains.
Syphilis left untreated during pregnancy can be transmitted from mother to baby, causing blindness, miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or other severe complications for infants.
Public Health recommends that all pregnant women be screened for syphilis at their first prenatal visit, again in the third trimester, and once more at delivery as required by law. Healthcare providers are urged to prioritize available Bicillin L-A supplies for pregnant patients and contact the Health Department if unable to obtain the medication.
Women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should use condoms, limit sexual partners, undergo routine sexually transmitted infection testing, and seek immediate treatment if diagnosed with syphilis.
Pregnant individuals or their healthcare providers needing help with affordable or free testing—or assistance finding Bicillin—can contact Mecklenburg County Public Health by calling 704-336-6500 or visiting the HIV/STI testing page online.
In related news about community demographics: Enrollment at Mecklenburg County schools dropped by 0.4% in the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/). The county’s schools enrolled a total of 153,537 students during that period (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
