CARE PROTOCOLS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS

Abstract

Congenital Syphilis (CS) is a fully preventable condition resulting from the vertical transmission of Treponema pallidum from an infected and inadequately treated pregnant woman to the fetus, leading to severe gestational outcomes such as fetal/neonatal death and serious clinical manifestations in the newborn. In light of the alarming reemergence of CS, disease control depends on the effectiveness of care protocols and immediate pharmacological management. The present study is a narrative literature review aimed at synthesizing scientific evidence on the management of CS, using the descriptors "Syphilis, Congenital" and "Therapeutics" in the PubMed database. The main strategy for eradication is universal screening of pregnant women during prenatal care (treponemal tests and VDRL). The standard pharmacological management for pregnant women is Benzathine Penicillin G, and it is crucial that maternal treatment be completed at least 30 days before delivery to be considered adequate for the fetus. The persistence of the disease is linked to multifactorial failures, including gaps in prenatal care, health inequities, stigma, and low adherence of sexual partners to treatment. Neonatal treatment is performed with Crystalline Penicillin G or Procaine Penicillin. It is concluded that treatment success goes beyond the pharmacological act, requiring a comprehensive care protocol within a healthcare network, with strengthening of public policies and health education in order to interrupt the cycle of vertical transmission.