Pediatric Chief Resident PGY-3 Tucson Medical Center for Children Mesa, Arizona, United States
Background: The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) has reported an ongoing crisis with the rise of syphilis cases since 2015 in women and newborns. AZDHS has reported that in 2016 just 17 Arizona babies were born with syphilis and in 2021 more than 135 neonatal syphilis cases were reported in the first 9 months alone. Around 75% of infants born with congenital syphilis were symptomatic. At a community hospital in Southern Arizona, a corresponding increase in the incidence of neonatal syphilis has been seen. This hospital is located within the US-Mexico border area that includes 62.5 miles north and south of the international boundary. This proximity to Mexico affects the incidence of multiple diseases seen in this community including the incidence of neonatal syphilis. According to the Mexican Health Ministry the cases of congenital syphilis increased from 62 cases in 2010 to 372 cases in 2019. These affected infants can experience severe, life altering sequelae including cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, musculoskeletal deformities and hearing loss. These complications are entirely preventable with appropriate prenatal care and treatment. Objective: The initial aim of this study is to review the incidence of congenital syphilis in newborns at a community hospital in Southern Arizona, as well as the risk factors associated with congenital syphilis occurrence and severity. Our long term objective is to improve awareness and knowledge among health care providers and our community about this preventable neonatal diagnosis. Design/Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study with a 10-year follow-up period of 1/1/2013 and 12/31/2023. The population consists of all the newborns admitted to our community hospital who received a diagnosis of congenital syphilis during this time. The data will be extracted from the medical records of these patients and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Some of the variables included in this analysis are; demographics, access to prenatal care, maternal social determinants of health and long term outcomes of these infants.
