Successful penicillin desensitization in a pregnant woman with latent syphilis and penicillin allergy

Syphilis during pregnancy has a high risk of congenital transmission with disastrous fetal consequences. The only proven effective therapy for gestational syphilis is benzathine penicillin, as its bioavailability ensures adequate treatment for both the mother and the fetus. Here we report a case of a 30-year-old pregnant woman, with syphilis and a penicillin allergy, who was safely and successfully desensitized using a 4-hour oral protocol in the intensive care unit and subsequently received benzathine penicillin G.