Sexually Transmitted Infections
摘要
Clinicians play a critical role in encouraging vaccination, preventing STIs, and counseling patients about contraception as they see their patients for both well-child/adult exams as well as for acute illnesses. Primary care providers need to understand prevention, screening, symptoms, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly in at-risk populations. In the 2022 STI Surveillance report, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in the number of STIs from 2.45 million cases in 2018 to 2.50 million cases in 2022. Particularly concerning is the increase in primary and congenital syphilis [1]. Two-thirds of cases are found in adolescents and young adults, while 2.5% of cases are found in older adults. Seven percent of the total cases of primary and secondary syphilis are found in the older population with gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) accounting for approximately 50% of the cases [2]. Untreated STIs not only lead to the continued spread of disease but can also have personal serious life-long health consequences. In 2020, the WHO estimated 374 million new infections with one of four STIs: chlamydia (129 million), gonorrhea (82 million), syphilis (7.1 million), and trichomoniasis (156 million) [3].