California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Updates Syphilis Screening Recommendations​
October 14, 2024 – This Health Update informs health care providers about updated syphilis screening recommendations in response to rising syphilis and congenital syphilis (CS) rates in the state.​

Updated Recommendations for Hepatitis C Testing Among Pregnant Persons and Perinatally Exposed Infants and Children (PDF)
August 19, 2024 – This Dear Colleague Letter informs health care providers about new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for Hepatitis C testing among perinatally exposed infants and children.

Update on Clade I Mpox Geographical Spread in Africa: Recommendations for California Health Care Providers
August 12, 2024 – This Health Update informs health care providers about mpox infections, from clade I monkeypox virus (MPXV), continuing to increase in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). CDEC has recently confirmed the spread of clade I MPXV to neighboring countries.

Powdered Benzathine Benzylpenicillin (Extencilline®) for the Treatment of Syphilis (PDF)
January 26, 2024 – This Dear Colleague Letter informs health care providers about the use of powdered benzathine benzylpenicillin (Extencilline®) for the treatment of syphilis.

Increase in Mpox Cases in California: Updates on Identification, Laboratory Testing, Management and Treatment, and Vaccination for Mpox
October 30, 2023 – This Health Advisory informs health care providers on how to recognize mpox, collect appropriate specimens, and provide treatment.

Special Considerations for the Treatment of Syphilis using Alternative Therapies in Non-pregnant Persons (PDF)
September 12, 2023 – This Dear Colleague Letter provides health care providers guidance regarding the use of alternative syphilis treatment regimens for non-pregnant persons in the setting of Bicillin® L-A supply shortages.

Bicillin L-A (Benzathine Penicillin G) Shortage
June 1, 2023 - This Health Advisory informs health care providers about California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines for prioritization and conservation of shortage drugs.

Preventing the Resurgence of Mpox Cases in California (PDF)
May 30, 2023 – This Dear Colleague Letter reminds health care providers to remain vigilant in mpox prevention, recognition, and testing during the 2023 spring and summer seasons as people gather for festivals and events.

Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) for the Prevention of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (PDF)
April 28, 2023 – This Dear Colleague Letter provides health care providers with recommendations for prescribing doxy-PEP to men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women (TGW), and others at increased risk for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Updates on Identification, Laboratory Testing, Management and Treatment, and Vaccination for Mpox Virus Infection in California
April 4, 2023 - This Health Advisory provides updates to information and recommendations about severe mpox, including recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) interim clinical treatment considerations for severe mpox.

Increasing Cases of Congenital Syphilis and Syphilis Among Females in the Central Coast Region of California (PDF)
April 1, 2023 – This Health Alert draws attention to the increase in congenital syphilis (CS) and early syphilis cases among females of childbearing age in the central coast region, and to suggest strategies for decreasing cases moving forward.

Guidance for Safe Specimen Collection From Monkeypox (mpox) Lesions: Reminder to NOT De-roof Lesions and NOT Use Sharps
October 5, 2022 - This Health Advisory reminds health care providers of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to reduce risk of mpox (formerly monkeypox) virus transmission to health care personnel (HCP) during collection of specimens from lesions for laboratory diagnosis of mpox virus.

Update for Clinicians on Monkeypox in People with HIV, Children and Adolescents, and People who are Pregnant or Breastfeeding (CDC)
May 15, 2023 – This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Update alerts health care providers to clinical considerations for preventing, diagnosing, and managing mpox (formerly monkeypox) in people with HIV, children, adolescents, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Update for Clinicians on Testing on Testing and Treatment for Monkeypox
July 28, 2022 – This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Update alerts health care providers on commercial testing capability, collecting clinical specimens for testing, and using TPOXX® (tecovirimat) for treating mpox (formerly monkeypox).

Health Care Provider Health Advisory: Managing Monkeypox Virus Infection in California
June 23, 2022 – This Health Alert providers updated information for health care providers in the evaluation and management of suspected mpox cases.

Updated Case-finding Guidance: Monkeypox Outbreak—United States (CDC)
June 14, 2022 - This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Update alerts health care providers to clinical presentations of mpox (formerly monkeypox) seen in the United States and to provide updated, expanded case definitions intended to encourage testing for mpox among persons presenting for care with relevant history, signs, and symptoms.

Monkeypox Virus Infection in the United States and Other Non-endemic Countries- Enhancing Surveillance in California as of May 20, 2022
May 20, 2022 – This Health Advisory provides health care providers a situation summary, recommendations for the evaluation of a suspected mpox (formerly monkeypox) case and treatment, and considerations for infection control and treatment and management.

Opt-Out ED HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, and Syphilis Screening (PDF)
March 28, 2022 – This Dear Colleague Letter provides recommendations for emergency departments (ED) to consider implementing routine opt-out testing for syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis C.

Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Week 2022 (PDF)
March 21, 2022 – This Dear Colleague Letter provides information and resources about Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Week.

Increasing Cases of Congenital Syphilis and Syphilis Among Females in Northern California (PDF)
October 2021 – This Health Alert provides recommendations based on Expanded Syphilis Screening Guidelines for the Prevention of Congenital Syphilis (CS).

Updated Sexually Transmitted Infection Treatment Guidelines (PDF)
August 8, 2021 – This Dear Colleague Letter provides current evidence-based diagnostic, management, and treatment recommendations, and serves as a source of clinical guidance for managing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Recommendations for Extragenital Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening (PDF)
February 20, 2019 – This Dear Colleague Letter provides recommendations for sexually transmitted disease (STD) screenings to include all exposed anatomical sites to effectively detect and treat disease.​