"Rising Syphilis Cases in US Prompt Struggle for Crucial Antibiotic"
STD clinics in the United States are struggling to find an adequate supply of the preferred antibiotic treatment for syphilis, Bicillin, as infections continue to rise. The National Coalition of STD Directors and other public health groups have sent a letter to the White House, urging them to intervene and work with drugmaker Pfizer to ensure an adequate supply. The shortage of Bicillin has left health departments scrambling to ration existing supply and develop contingency plans. The rise in syphilis cases, including congenital syphilis, has been significant, with reported cases increasing by 74% from 2017 to 2021. Pfizer has acknowledged limited supplies of Bicillin and estimated that the issue may not be resolved until 2024.