Drug Shortage Confusion Leads to Preventable Congenital Syphilis Case in Arizona

A newborn in Arizona was diagnosed with congenital syphilis after the mother could not access penicillin through Pfizer's emergency allocation program during a national drug shortage. The case illustrates how supply chain disruptions and access barriers to penicillin — the only FDA-approved treatment for syphilis in pregnancy — are contributing to rising congenital syphilis rates. The CDC reported over 3,700 congenital syphilis cases in 2022, up from 335 in 2012. Medicaid covers approximately 42% of all births nationally and a disproportionate share of pregnancies affected by syphilis, making prenatal screening and treatment access critical managed care quality measures.

Maternal · Managed Care · Pharmacy