Researchers Explore Challenges of Sexually Transmitted Infection Treatment

In an editorial published in BMC Infectious Diseases, Chen and Tabrizi (2015) note that each year, hundreds of millions of new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur worldwide resulting in reproductive and other serious sequelae, as well as enhanced transmission of HIV. The clinical management and control of these STIs should include as a minimum access to services that provide timely and accurate diagnostic testing together with effective treatment. The provision of appropriate treatment is challenged by the development of increasing antimicrobial resistance, in particular with gonorrhoea and Mycoplasma genitalium infections, requiring new treatments and management algorithms. In addition, infections such as chlamydia, syphilis and trichomoniasis, which show few signs of resistance, are nevertheless highly prevalent and require better public health control measures. While these may be achievable in high income countries, they are still beyond the reach of many low and middle income countries, making substantial improvements in STI management and reductions in STI prevalence challenging.

This editorial is part of the series Sexually Transmitted Infection Treatment Challenges.

Reference: Chen MY and Tabrizi SN. Challenges to the management of curable sexually transmitted infections. BMC Infectious Diseases 2015, 15:337  doi:10.1186/s12879-015-1061-2