CDC is reporting rising rates of STDs in the US, which is of concern for many of our practices. Now is a good time to be touching base with your local health departments to see what the clinical picture is in your own community. Of particular concern from the recent report:
- Gonorrhea diagnoses increased 67 percent overall (from 333,004 to 555,608 cases according to preliminary 2017 data) and nearly doubled among men (from 169,130 to 322,169). Increases in diagnoses among women — and the speed with which they are increasing — are also concerning, with cases going up for the third year in a row (from 197,499 to 232,587). CDC continues to be concerned about resistance, as well, although there have not yet been any confirmed cases of resistance to the reco
mmended dual therapy in the US. - Primary and secondary syphilis diagnoses increased 76 percent (from 17,375 to 30,644 cases). Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) made up almost 70 percent of primary and secondary syphilis cases where the gender of the sex partner is known in 2017.
The full surveillance report is expected to be released at the end of next month; I’ll post it when it comes out.
Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download