Drug to treat syphilis on backorder as infection rates grow

Officials have run out of an important drug that is used to treat both strep throat and syphilis amid an increase in the infection rate of the STD across the country.

Bicillin L-A is on backorder until July according to the FDA. Pfizer, the only company that makes the drug, sent a letter to consumers saying it would only be able to provide 30 percent of its usual monthly demand because of a delay in manufacturing. The company and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it should only be used if there's no other choice available for a patient.

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Bicillin L-A is an antibiotic used for infections like strep throat, but more importantly, it's the only recommended drug for pregnant women who have been exposed to or infected with syphilis.

The infection can be passed from the mother to the baby, even if the mother isn't showing any symptoms. The resulting infection is called congenital syphilis and can cause a miscarriage, stillbirth or even the death of a baby after it's born.

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The shortage could not be happening at a worse time. Congenital syphilis is actually increasing in the U.S. Reported cases declined during 2008-2012 but increased from a rate of 8.4 to 11.6 cases for every 100,000 births between 2012 and 2014.

The increase is tied to an overall increase in syphilis nationwide. Last year, the CDC reported a 15.1 percent increase in the most "infectious stages" of syphilis from 2013.

A doctor with the CDC says it's working with states to find out where exactly shortages are and focus on sending supplies there.