Summary of the Fourth Annual American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association Workshop on Improving Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Efforts Through Cross-Sector Collaboration

Abstract

The American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association has, for several years, been conducting a cross-sector workshop to bring together a variety of stakeholders to develop ideas for collaboratively improving the sexually transmitted infection control efforts in the United States. In this summary, we share the content of discussions and ideas of the fourth annual workshop for future research and potential changes to practice with a focus on diagnostic capacity.

Telehealth Services: Implications for Enhancing Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention

“…13 Sexually transmitted infection programs must also continue to ensure access to clinical services for necessary follow-up interventions such as testing and treatment. 41 Sexually transmitted infection programs will need to support the development of new skills among program staff that enables them to engage with patients who may be significantly skeptical of the virtual intervention relationship.…”

“…To successfully transition to telehealth services, STI programs must focus on the intersection of several factors, beginning with the persons' access to broadband Internet and possession of an Internet-capable device and including sufficient technology literacy 13 . Sexually transmitted infection programs must also continue to ensure access to clinical services for necessary follow-up interventions such as testing and treatment 41 . Sexually transmitted infection programs will need to support the development of new skills among program staff that enables them to engage with patients who may be significantly skeptical of the virtual intervention relationship.…”

The Critical Need to Modernize Syphilis Screening

“…This will require improved diagnostics, as well as addressing issues related to regulatory requirements, costs, and public health reporting. Industry, government, and academic collaborations to define regulatory requirements, identify stakeholder (eg, patients, clinicians, regulators, funders, manufacturers, and commercial laboratories) needs and responsibilities, and develop a viable path to market have been initiated but need to be significantly scaled up. Funding should be prioritized for the development of novel syphilis diagnostics, just as there has been for development of syphilis vaccines, which are still many years from becoming a reality.…”