UAMS-led collaboration launches congenital syphilis initiative

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ARPQC), a partnership started last year between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) and 34 birthing hospitals across the state, has launched an initiative to rapidly address a congenital syphilis problem in Arkansas.

Twenty-two hospitals in Arkansas are participating in this new initiative, which started in January and will run for six months.

“Syphilis is an infection that we used to rarely see,” said William “Sam” Greenfield, M.D., MBA, a professor in the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, medical director for Family Health with ADH and medical director of ARPQC. “Unfortunately, it’s making a resurgence, not just in Arkansas, but across the United States and globally.

We need to update our clinical practices to address this problem.”

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection.

Congenital syphilis occurs when the infection is passed from mothers to their babies during pregnancy. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by ensuring that pregnant women are screened for syphilis and receive treatment for an infection. However, according to the Arkansas Department of Health, since 2017, congenital syphilis cases in the state have increased nearly five-fold.

For this initiative, ARPQC partnered with the ADH infectious disease program, which provides treatment and case management for all adults and infants infected with syphilis.

“Congenital syphilis is a devastating disease, and appropriate screening and timely treatment can prevent maternal and infant mortality and morbidity,” said Naveen Patil, M.D., deputy state health officer and medical director of the state Department of Health’s Infectious Disease Branch. “Preliminary analysis showed that 50 percent of congenital syphilis cases result from lack of timely or no maternal syphilis testing/treatment.”

“We’re excited for this partnership with ADH, which will help disseminate important infection prevention resources and strengthen the coordination between maternity care providers and the infectious disease prevention program,” said Jennifer Callaghan-Koru, Ph.D., an associate professor in the UAMS College of Public Health and executive director of ARPQC ARPQC has developed a maternal safety bundle to guide practice changes at participating hospitals. A key recommendation is to screen all pregnant women at birth as well as at outpatient encounters such as emergency department visits.

Leah Wooldridge, RN, obstet-

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rics director at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville, said participating in the initiative is already benefiting their patients.

“Because we initiated the syphilis screening on admission, we were able to catch a positive case that was initially negative in that first trimester,” Wooldridge said.

“By screening every patient at admission, we were able to get that baby to a tertiary care center for treatment.”

ARPQC has also prepared clinical guides and educational resources to assist participating facilities with practice changes.

“Syphilis can be an upsetting diagnosis, and there’s a lot of follow-up care that patients need to navigate,” said Lauren Pena, a registered nurse in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health and training and communications manager at ARPCQ. “We provided education for patients that explains the treatment steps and how they can protect themselves and their babies.”

The ARPQC’s mission is to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality in Arkansas.

Between 2018 and 2020, 38 women in Arkansas died from pregnancy-related causes. According to the state’s review panel of medical experts, more than 90 percent of these deaths were potentially preventable.

This is the collaborative’s second initiative. In its first initiative, ARPQC facilitated trainings with hospitals and clinicians across the state aimed at reducing cesarean delivery rates and providing better pathways to optimal health for Arkansas mothers. For more information, visit the ARPQC’s website, arpqc.org, which houses information about the collaborative, provides education to help patients make informed health care decisions and includes resources for health care providers.

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Arkansas legislators honor late Gov. Jim Guy

Tucker with resolution

LITTLE ROCK — Legislators have honored the late Governor Jim Guy Tucker on the capitol house floor with a memorial resolution.

The 43rd Governor of Arkansas passed away on Thursday, Feb. 13, at the age of 81.

Jim Guy Tucker, former Arkansas Governor, dies at 81 Representative Tracy Steele delivered the resolution, speaking on his personal experiences with Tucker.

'It gives me great pleasure, today, to show our respect, our honor, to someone who served this state in the highest office that we have in Arkansas. Governor Jim Guy Tucker.' said Steele.

The memorial resolution lists his life's accomplishments and remembers Tucker for his service to the nation and the State of Arkansas.

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New grant to help regional sheriff’s offices, police departments

PARAGOULD — A new project may be in the offing at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office with the receiving of a state grant, officials recently said.

Greene County justices met

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Feb. 18 and approved setting up a fund in the county’s budget for the project. It will designate funds from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety for a grant for a data extraction and digital forensic workstation.

According to the resolution, the grant was an Act 786 Public Safety Equipment Grant.

State officials said last year that the grant is given to local and county law enforcement agencies as a way to build trust, with a focus on improving equipment and training.

Greene County Judge Rusty McMillon said the sheriff’s office had received the $60,373 grant and JPs approved the request.

Of the $60,373, $46,878 will be spent on machinery and equipment, $6,495 on training and education, $6,400 on software support and maintenance and $600 for small equipment.

Several other area law enforcement agencies received the grant this year, including the 2nd Judicial District Task Force, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Harrisburg police, Jackson County Sheriff , Manila police, Osceola police, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Sharp County Sheriff, Tyronza police and Wynne police.