Resources & Forms

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently released a Health Advisory focused on the dramatically rising rates of syphilis nationwide and in Illinois, including congenital cases that have increased by 211% in Illinois from 2018-2022. The Health Advisory features resources to address…

To be completed monthly by Illinois hospital staff detailing the number of delivering people and syphilis documentation status.

The Chicago Department of Public Health's congenital syphilis case report form should be used for non-electronic reporting of cases.

The Chicago Department of Public Health features a comprehensive guide with instructions for how to electronically submit a congenital syphilis case report via their Chicago Health Information Management System (CHIMS).

The IDPH STD Morbidity Report Form should be completed and faxed to your local health department within seven days of disease diagnosis or treatment for presumed syphilis. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health provides a comprehensive overview of syphilis including syphilis during pregnancy and congenital syphilis.

The Syphilis Action Toolkit was developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health and is a collection of resources that includes treatment and screening guidelines, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and infographics.

The National Network of STD Prevention Training Centers features a National STD Curriculum with information on syphilis including a self-study unit with CEs, a lecture series and podcasts. Specific syphilis content in the National STD Curriculum includes:Self-Study STD Lessons with CE Credit -…

The Illinois Department of Public Health has distributed information to providers about the use of Extencilline to treat syphilis during the Bicillin shortage. This information includes: Communication from the FDAA letter from Laboratories Delbert (working with Provepharm, Inc. and Direct…

In June 2023, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association and the Illinois Department of Public Health presented the webinar entitled Congenital Syphilis, Testing & Treatment in Pregnancy, and State Family Planning Programs directed at prenatal care providers. 

The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics along with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health presented the webinar Congenital Syphilis: An Update for Pediatricians on August 2, 2023. Webinar SlidesWebinar Recording 

On September 21, 2023, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a Dear Colleague Letter to bring attention to the rising numbers of syphilis cases in Illinois and strategies to reverse the trend. The communication addressed the nationwide shortage of Bicillin L-A®, clinical guidance…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publish Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines (2021) that include guidance for managing syphilis during pregnancy and congenital syphilis.

The Illinois Department of Public Health developed a comprehensive guide to understanding syphilis testing and lab interpretation.

The CDC published new Laboratory Recommendations for Syphilis Testing in the United States in February 2024. This report provides new CDC recommendations for tests that can support a diagnosis of syphilis, including serologic testing and methods for the identification of the causative agent…

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) published Policy Considerations for Reducing Congenital Syphilis in May 2023. The report focuses on promising strategies in four different policy areas to address rising congenital syphilis rates: (1) prenatal syphilis screening…

Developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 2018, Syphilis - Staging and Treatment offers providers guidance for staging and treatment of syphilis, including during pregnancy. 

 A video series created by the lllinois 24/7 Perinatal HIV Hotline featuring comprehensive guidance for all phases of perinatal care for people living with HIV and their newborns.Perinatal Care for People Living with HIV - YouTube

This form is used to confirm previous patient syphilis serology and treatment history from state, county or local public health authorities. You must call the Illinois Perinatal Syphilis Warmline at 1-800-439-4079 for pre-approval and guidance before submitting this form. Once pre-approved, this…

Online educational and training resources for information about infant feeding and breast/chestfeeding include the following: The Well Project National Perinatal HIV Hotline  

In April 2023, the Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline and the Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center (MATEC) presented a 2-part series on HIV and Infant Feeding. The series highlighted the new guidelines around infant feeding for people with HIV, explored motivations for breast/chestfeeding, and…

The Infant Feeding Agreement features a checklist of important actions for safe breast/chestfeeding. This document can be used by clinicians during counseling about infant feeding choices for those who choose to breast/chestfeed.

The federally approved Perinatal Guidelines offer recommendations about infant feeding for people with HIV including breast/chestfeeding. The guidelines stress that patient-centered counseling should assess an individual’s opinions and plans about infant feeding, engage them in shared…

The Illinois 24/7 Perinatal HIV Hotline's best practices for labor & delivery and postpartum care for people living with HIV (including those with a preliminarily positive rapid HIV test) and newborns with HIV exposure were adapted from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services…

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine developed updated and expanded checklists to be used as tools to facilitate the care of individuals with HIV during all phases of pregnancy care. The checklists help ensure that all relevant elements are considered for every person with HIV during…