infectious diseases
Overview of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Introduction
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) refers to infection with a pathogen that is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or other body fluids during oral, anal, or genital sex with an infected partner. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) refers to a recognizable disease state that has developed from an STI ( Reference ). STIs can be caused by a number of microorganisms that vary widely in size, life cycle, susceptibility to available treatments and the diseases and symptoms they cause. Bacterial STIs include Syphilis None Chlamydia and Mycoplasmal Mucosal Infections None Gonorrhea None Chancroid None Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) None Granuloma Inguinale None Chlamydia and Mycoplasmal Mucosal Infections None Viral STIs include Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection None Mucocutaneous herpes simplex infection None Molluscum Contagiosum None Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection None Parasitic infections that can be sexually transmitted include Trichomoniasis (caused by protozoa) Scabies (caused by mites) Pubic lice (caused by lice) Many other infections not considered primarily to be STIs—including Overview of Salmonella Infections , Because sexual activity includes close contact with skin and mucous membranes of the genitals, mouth, and rectum, many organisms are efficiently spread between people. Some STIs cause inflammation (eg, in gonorrhea or chlamydial infection) or ulceration (eg, in herpes simplex, syphilis, or chancroid), which predispose to transmission of other infections (eg, HIV). STI prevalence rates remain high in most of the world, despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances. In the US, over 25 million new cases of STIs occur each year; about half occur in people aged 15 to 24 years (see alsoCenters for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]: Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2020). Factors impeding control of STIs include Unprotected sexual activity with multiple partners Difficulty talking about sexual issues for both physicians and patients Inadequate funding for implementing existing diagnostic tests and treatments and for developing new tests and treatments Susceptibility to reinfection if both partners are not treated simultaneously Incomplete treatment, which can lead to development of drug-resistant organisms International travel, which facilitates rapid global dissemination of STIs 