Arizona newborn diagnosed with congenital syphilis after penicillin request delayed
Public health officials in Gila County submitted an emergency request for Bicillin L-A in late March after a pregnant woman tested positive for syphilis. The medication had not arrived by the time the woman delivered, and the infant was diagnosed with congenital syphilis.
StatPublic health officials in Gila County, Arizona, submitted an emergency request for injectable penicillin on March 27 after a pregnant woman was diagnosed with syphilis. The request followed a national shortage of Bicillin L-A that began in July 2025.
Pfizer, the sole U.S. manufacturer of the drug, confirmed receipt of the request the following Monday. More than a week later, on April 7, the medication still had not arrived.
Delivery and outcome By the time the request was still being processed, the woman had given birth. An Arizona Department of Health Services official wrote that the opportunity to prevent congenital syphilis had been missed. The infant was later diagnosed with the condition, which can cause bone deformities, brain damage, blindness, or deafness if untreated.
Background on shortage and requests The National Coalition of STD Directors had asked Pfizer in February to donate a portion of its Bicillin L-A reserves to state health departments as a precaution. Pfizer stated in early June that it was still evaluating the proposal.
The company maintains an emergency request system limited to confirmed or at-risk congenital syphilis cases. Emails obtained by STAT showed confusion between the company and public health staff over whether required forms had been submitted.
