Implementing a 24/7 Congenital Syphilis Hotline for California Clinicians: Results From a 13-Week Pilot Project.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Maternal and Child Health

Background:

• Syphilis during pregnancy and congenital syphilis pose significant risks to maternal and infant health.
• Timely expert consultation is crucial for effective management and prevention of adverse outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of a 24/7 hotline pilot for consultations on syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis.
• To identify the primary users and clinical scenarios requiring urgent consultation.

Main Methods:

• The National Network of STD Prevention Training Centers established a 24/7 hotline.
• Data collected on urgent consultation requests, including caller demographics, clinical setting, and patient stage.

Main Results:

• A total of 28 urgent requests were managed during the pilot.
• Physicians (61%) in hospital settings (54%) were the primary users.
• Consultations predominantly involved patients in the third trimester of pregnancy or neonates (82%).

Conclusions:

• The pilot hotline demonstrated a need for immediate expert support for syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis.
• The service effectively reached physicians managing high-risk patient populations, indicating its potential value in STD prevention.