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Online prescribing for sexually transmitted infections - what is on offer? An evaluation of internet pharmacies based in the United Kingdom

Abstract Background Online pharmacies offer an alternative approach for patients to manage their sexual health. Our aim was to determine the type of antimicrobials sold as treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by UK internet pharmacies and if providers were adhering to national guidelines. Methods A search engine results page (SERP) generated a list of registered UK online pharmacies offering treatment for the following infections: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Herpes simplex and Trichomonas vaginalis. An initial audit in 2017 benchmarked each provider against the British Association of Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH guidelines. Results were fed back to each provider before re-audit in 2020. Websites selling antibiotics for non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) and Mycoplasma genitalium were included at re-audit. Results There were 30 pharmacies identified in 2017 of which, five were excluded. Treatment could be obtained for Neisseria gonorrhoeae from five pharmacies without providing a culture result; three (60%) pharmacies sold BASHH approved antibiotics for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. All 25 pharmacies sold Chlamydia trachomatis treatment; 22 (88%) offered first line treatment options but no website assessed for proctitis. Herpes simplex treatment was sold on 22 websites of which, 13 (59%) offered treatment recommended by BASHH. Trichomonas vaginalis treatment was sold by four websites in line with BASHH. Results at re-audit showed an improvement in standards, although advice before, during and after treatment remained variable. Discussion Our work has allowed us to engage with providers to improve prescribing within the UK online pharmacy industry. However, tougher regulation is needed in order to embed sustainable change for patients who choose to access treatment online.