Bottom Line: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reaffirms its 2016 recommendation of screening for syphilis in persons who are at increased risk for infection. This recommendation applies to asymptomatic, nonpregnant adolescents and adults who have ever been sexually active. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can progress through different stages and cause serious health problems if left untreated. Reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis in the U.S. increased from a record low of 2.1 cases per 100,000 population in 2000 and 2001 to 11.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2019. Men account for the majority of cases, and rates among women nearly tripled from 2015 to 2019. The USPSTF routinely makes recommendations about the effectiveness of preventive care services.
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(doi:10.1001/jama.2022.15322)
