All pregnant women should be screened for syphilis (A recommendation), according to a released by the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force for comment.
The draft reaffirms a 2009 recommendation that also carried an A grade indicating strong evidence of net benefit. Notably, the USPSTF found adequate evidence that screening tests can detect syphilis in pregnant women, convincing evidence that universal screening reduces incidence of syphilis infection, and a no greater than small risk of harms, such as anxiety and harms of treatment with antibiotics.
The USPSTF will take public comment on this draft recommendation statement until March 5, 2018.