Background: In 2023, the Pennsylvania STD Program reported 29 congenital syphilis (CS) cases—the most CS cases reported since 1990. In response to the increase, the STD Program initiated a process of cross-checking the monthly birth file from the Pennsylvania Department of Health‘s Vital Records with PA-NEDSS (Pennsylvania’s STD reporting, surveillance, and case management system). Conducting this data crossmatch between the two systems ensures that persons with syphilis and/or gonorrhea during pregnancy have been appropriately documented treated and interviewed as documented in PA-NEDSS.
Methods: Since October 2023 the STD Program performs a routine monthly data match between persons who have recently given birth and documented with an STD as indicated in the birth file with those reported with an STD in PA-NEDSS. Any pregnant person found in the birth file not matched in PA-NEDSS is assigned to STD staff for provider follow-up and, if necessary, follow up for client testing and treatment.
Results: From October 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, the STD Program identified 92 pregnant persons from the birth file with either syphilis or gonorrhea infection during pregnancy. A crossmatch with PA-NEDSS indicated that 35 (38%) of the persons identified needed to be followed for an unmatched syphilis record or undocumented gonorrhea treatment in PA-NEDSS.
Conclusion: The birth file match has proven to be a secondary safety-net methodology to identify persons with risk during pregnancy. This data match ensures the implementation of effective testing and treatment services for the pregnant person and child who might have been missed during prenatal and delivery care. Additionally, the process provided opportunities for the Disease Intervention Specialist to engage with providers to reinforce reporting requirements, prenatal testing recommendations for STDs especially syphilis, and creates awareness of appropriate treatment.
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