infectious diseases
Overview of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Treatment of STIs
Usually antimicrobials Treatment of complications, if present If possible, simultaneous treatment of sex partners Most STIs can be effectively treated with antimicrobial medications. However, drug resistance is an increasing problem. Clinical diagnosis alone may be used to determine treatment in the following situations: Diagnostic testing is limited or not available. The infection is severe and treatment cannot be delayed while waiting for a diagnostic test result. Clinical suspicion of a particular infection is high based on history or physical examination, particularly if patient follow-up is uncertain. Patients who are being treated for a bacterial STI should abstain from sexual intercourse until the infection has been eliminated from them and their sex partners. Sex partners should be evaluated and treated simultaneously. Viral STIs, especially herpes and HIV infection, usually persist for life. Antiviral medications can control but not yet cure most of these infections, and patients should be counseled about safer sex practices to prevent transmission. 