Private MD News

New guidelines call for increased STD testing

Category: Chlamydia

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new set of guidelines for the diagnosing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. Among the highlights of the report is a call for increased STD testing.

The report says that some common infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea have been increasing in prevalence in recent years and that they can become treatment resistant. Testing more individuals for these diseases may be one of the most important things that public health officials can do to prevent their spread.

Additionally, the updated guidelines provide new recommendations for treating individuals who have received positive STD tests. The hope is that providing people with best evidence-based care will lead to a reduction in prevalence.

While the new publication can provide guidance to healthcare professionals, Dr. Kimberly Workowski, who helped write the report, told Skin and Allergy News that clinicians should still use their best judgment in when providing care to an individual who has received a positive STD test.

"Health care providers should always consider the clinical circumstances of each person in the context of local disease prevalence," she told the news source.