STI Clinical Update Webinar – Congenital Syphilis Scenarios: A case-based overview

April 28, 2025
12:00PM -1:15PM (PDT)
1.25 CME units at no cost

Course Description

This presentation reviews four separate cases of congenital syphilis (CS). Each case illustrates one of the four CS Scenarios, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Through these cases, learners will gain an understanding of the diagnosis and management of the CDC CS Scenarios. The cases are shown from two viewpoints: a clinical pediatric infectious disease perspective and a public health medical officer standpoint.

Learning Objectives

Describe the diagnostic criteria for the four congenital syphilis scenarios, as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Identify at least one public health resource for congenital syphilis management
Understand the different lab tests that can be used to evaluate an infant exposed to syphilis during pregnancy.

Presenters

Elizabeth Partridge, MS, MD, MPH
Dr. Partridge is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the UC Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) in Sacramento, CA. She provides inpatient and outpatient consultation for children with acute and chronic infections. Dr. Partridge serves as medical director of infection prevention for the UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Her clinical and research interests include hospital epidemiology & infection prevention. She has a special clinical interest in the prevention and management of congenital Syphilis infection.

Rosalyn Plotzker, MD, MPH
Dr. Plotzker is an Assistant Professor in the UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and also performs high-resolution anoscopy at the UCSF Anal Neoplasia Clinic, Research, and Education (ANCRE) Center. She completed a Fellowship in Sexually Transmitted Diseases with the CAPTC and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). She serves as a Public Health Medical Officer in the STD Control Branch at CDPH.

To request an accommodation for this event, please email captc@ucsf.edu at least a week in advance of the event.

Clinical Guidance: Infant and Child Follow-up After Exposure to Syphilis in Utero

Designed to support clinicians and public health practitioners, this resource provides detailed algorithms for the evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of neonates, infants, and children exposed to syphilis during pregnancy. Developed in alignment with the 2021 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines, the resource outlines step-by-step instructions for monitoring RPR/VDRL titers, interpreting titer trends, and ensuring thorough follow-up care for infants and children affected by syphilis.

View PDF

NNPTC Syphilis Series: Congenital Syphilis & Syphilis in Pregnancy

February 26thth, 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST

In the last installation of NNPTC’s 3 part Syphilis Series, learn from experts Dr. Jason Zucker of the New York City STI PTC & Dr. Erica Hardy of the Sylvie Ratelle STI/HIV PTC.

Case Based Discussions on Congenital Syphilis & Syphilis in Pregnancy

Learning Objectives

Describe the importance of interprofessional collaboration in sexual health care.
Describe current STD/HIV screening strategies including diagnostic algorithms.
Describe current STD/HIV treatment recommendations.

STI Clinical Update Webinar – Introduction to Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis: A Phoenix IHS and CAPTC Event

January 11, 2024

8:30AM-12:00PM (MST)

Presented by CAPTC Clinical Faculty

Please note: CME not available for viewing the webinar recording.

Presenters:

Sharon Adler, MD, MPH, Clinical Faculty, California Prevention Training Center
Wyatt Hanft, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, STI Fellow, California Prevention Training Center
Tamara Ooms, RN, MSN, FNP, Program Manager, California Prevention Training Center
Ina Park, MD, MS, Principal Investigator, California Prevention Training Center
Rosalyn Plotzker, MD, MPH, Clinical Faculty, California Prevention Training Center
Moderator: Kelly Johnson, MD, MPH, Medical Director, California Prevention Training Center

Learning Objectives:

Describe the varied clinical manifestations of syphilis in adults & congenital syphilis (CS) in infants

Recognize that there are two different screening algorithms used to diagnose syphilis in adults

Define adequate treatment for syphilis, including during pregnancy

List at least 3 strategies to prevent syphilis in adults and infants

STI Clinical Update Humboldt County-Addressing the Rise of Syphilis: A Review of Clinical Management of Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis for Health Care Providers

Presented by Drs. Kathleen Jacobson and Wyatt Hanft

December 5, 2023

Learning Objectives:

Apply California’s expanded syphilis screening recommendations
Describe the stages of syphilis and the recommended treatment and follow up for people with syphilis
Compare the traditional and reverse algorithm for syphilis screening

Please note: CME not offered for viewing the recording of the update

STI Expert Hour Webinar: Results of the ANCHOR study and their implications for anal cancer prevention guidelines

June 27, 2023 from 11:30AM-12:45PM (PDT)

Presented by Drs. Cristina Brickman and Joel Palefsky

This webinar will summarize the epidemiology of anal cancer, the results of the ANCHOR Study and development of guidelines for prevention of anal cancer in people living with HIV.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize the groups at highest risk of anal cancer
Explain the main findings of the ANCHOR Study
Explain current approaches to prevention of anal cancer

Please note: No CME available for viewing the webinar recording

Clinical Practice Alert: Syphilis Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Rates of syphilis have been rising in the US, including in California, which has resulted in a corresponding rise in the rates of congenital syphilis (CS). Fifteen percent of women of childbearing age diagnosed with syphilis are pregnant.

These trends mirror a sharp increase in all stages of syphilis among females, which increased more than 500 percent during the same period. Download the PDF to learn more.

This Clinical Practice Alert includes management of primary, secondary, and latent syphilis. It does not include screening and management of syphilis in people who are pregnant or the diagnosis and treatment of tertiary syphilis.

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Home Training STI Clinical Update Webinar: Congenital Syphilis Update for California Emergency Department Clinicians

STI Clinical Update Webinar: Congenital Syphilis Update for California Emergency Department Clinicians

December 14, 2021
Presented by Drs. Rosalyn Plotzker and Kristopher Lyon

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continues to see dramatic statewide increases in congenital syphilis (CS), a severe yet preventable condition when syphilis is passed from mother to fetus. In California, many infants with CS are born to parents who received care in an emergency department (ED) during pregnancy, suggesting syphilis screening in EDs may offer an important opportunity to detect syphilis in pregnancy and prevent CS.

This webinar features Dr. Rosalyn Plotzker, CDPH public health medical officer and co-author of the CDPH Expanded Syphilis Screening Recommendations for the Prevention of Congenital Syphilis. She will provide a clinical overview of CS prevention and discuss the recommendation to confirm syphilis status for pregnant patients in the ED. In addition, Dr. Kristopher Lyon, Public Health Officer and EMS medical director in Kern County, California and emergency department associate medical director, will present on syphilis screening in EDs from an on-the-ground perspective.

Learning Objectives

Describe California’s congenital syphilis epidemiology
Discuss the pathophysiology and management of syphilis, including among pregnant patients
Explain and apply the CDPH recommendation to confirm syphilis status among pregnant patients receiving care in emergency departments

Perinatal HIV and Congenital Syphilis—Dear Colleague Letter from CDPH

November 16, 2021: CDPH is asking for assistance in responding to concerning increases in congenital syphilis and perinatal HIV in California. Perinatal HIV transmission and congenital syphilis can be prevented with timely testing and treatment. A common risk factor, however, is receiving late or no prenatal care.

CDPH requests your assistance to implement the following policies and best practices to Screen, Treat and Prevent, and Prepare for perinatal transmissions

View PDF

Home Training STD Clinical Update Webinar: Congenital Syphilis Prevention Update for California Family Planning and Primary Care Providers

STD Clinical Update Webinar: Congenital Syphilis Prevention Update for California Family Planning and Primary Care Providers

September 28, 2021

Presented by Drs. Eric Tang and Sara Kennedy

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continues to see dramatic statewide increases in cases of congenital syphilis (CS), a severe yet preventable condition when syphilis is passed from mother to fetus. This webinar, presented by the California Prevention Training Center, features Dr. Eric Tang, public health medical officer at CDPH, who will provide a clinical overview of CS prevention and discuss the new Expanded Syphilis Screening Recommendations from CDPH as it relates to family planning and primary care providers.

After his presentation, Dr. Sara Kennedy, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood Northern California, will present her organization’s experience implementing expanded syphilis screening in their clinics to detect and treat syphilis cases to ultimately prevent CS cases in California.

Learning Objectives

Understand the epidemiology and recognize the risk factors for syphilis and congenital syphilis in California
Screen for syphilis based on the Expanded Syphilis Screening Recommendations from the California Department of Public Health
Appropriately diagnose and manage syphilis cases in your practice