Multilane Highway to Congenital Infection

identification and prevention or treatment of some congenital infections. For example, primary maternal syphilis is likely to cause fetal death, and latent maternal syphilis may result in no fetal or neonatal disease or in an easily missed latent infection that ultimately causes devastating disease if not treated. Universal screening and treatment of pregnant women for syphilis has almost completely eradicated congenital disease. Likewise, antiviral interruption of mother-to-fetus transmission of