Recommendations for Providing Quality Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Services, 2020

Abstract

This report (hereafter referred to as STD QCS) provides CDC recommendations to U.S. health care providers regarding quality clinical services for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for primary care and STD specialty care settings. These recommendations complement CDC's Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2015 (hereafter referred to as the STD Guidelines), a comprehensive, evidence-based reference for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of STDs. STD QCS differs from the STD Guidelines by specifying operational determinants of quality services in different types of clinical settings, describing on-site treatment and partner services, and indicating when STD-related conditions should be managed through consultation with or referral to a specialist. These recommendations might also help in the development of cliniclevel policies (e.g., standing orders, express visits, specimen panels, and reflex testing) that can facilitate implementation of the STD Guidelines. CDC organized the recommendations for STD QCS into eight sections: 1) sexual history and physical examination, 2) prevention, 3) screening, 4) partner services, 5) evaluation of STD-related conditions, 6) laboratory, 7) treatment, and 8) referral to a specialist for complex STD or STD-related conditions. CDC developed the recommendations by synthesizing relevant, evidence-based guidelines and recommendations issued by other experts; reviewing current practice in the United States; soliciting Delphi ratings by subject matter experts on STD care in primary care and STD specialty care settings; discussing the scientific evidence supporting the proposed recommendations at a consultation meeting of experts and institutional stakeholders held November 20, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia; conducting peer reviews of draft recommendations and supporting evidence; and discussing draft recommendations and supporting evidence during meetings of the CDC/Health Resources and Services Administration Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STD Prevention and Treatment STD Work Group. These recommendations are intended to help health care providers in primary care or STD specialty care settings offer STD services at their clinical settings and to help the persons seeking care live safer, healthier lives by preventing and treating STDs and related complications.

Sexual behaviour and knowledge of prevention of sexually transmitted infections among students in coeducational and non-coeducational secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…In low-resource settings, a visiting family and primary care physician or a trained doctor or nurse can provide these services while the appropriately trained teacher, school counsellor, or health worker provides promotive as well as some preventive and counselling services. [ 12 13 ] The school health service providers need to know the gender differences in the sexual behaviour and knowledge of prevention of STIs to provide adequate and effective sexual health services to students in schools. Research findings showed that knowledge about STI transmission might influence sexual behaviour and that knowledge is an important factor for the prevention of STIs.…”

Promoting safe sexual practices and sexual health maintenance in pediatric and young adult solid organ transplant recipients

“…Reducing the number of sexual partners and choosing lower risk, safer sexual behaviors are also key opportunities for STI prevention. Additional STI prevention strategies are available to providers to help employ effective, quality clinical services 49,55 . Clinicians who cannot reliably deliver these services should refer patients to providers who provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare services.…”

“…Given concerns for AYA compliance or poor medication adherence, single‐dose regimens are preferred in this population 49 . Same‐day treatment can be easily dispensed, directly observed, and often completed while the patient is in the transplant clinic 55 . Patients diagnosed with an STI should be encouraged to abstain from further sexual encounters until both they and their partner(s) complete antimicrobial treatment.…”

Laboratory Perspective on Racial Disparities in Sexually Transmitted Infections

“…The CDC recommends treatment not be delayed while waiting for diagnostic test results. Empiric, same day treatment may decrease complications (e.g., pelvic inflammatory disease) due to delayed care or loss to follow-up and reduce transmission ( 23 ).…”