Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) constitute an epi- workgroup selected on the basis of their expertise in
demic of tremendous magnitude, with an estimated the clinical management of STDs [8]. A systematic re-
19.7 million persons acquiring a new STD each year view was performed using a Medline database evidence-
[1]. Reported disease rates underestimate the true bur- based approach focusing on peer-reviewed journal articles
den of infection because the majority of STDs are and abstracts that became available after the publication
asymptomatic and because of underreporting [2]. Sexu- of the 2010 STD treatment guidelines. The outcome of
ally transmitted diseases have far-reaching public health this literature review informed development of tables of
consequences on the sexual and reproductive health of evidence that summarized the type of study (eg, rando-
individuals, as well as the long-term health and health- mized controlled trial or case series), study population
care costs to the community [3]. and setting, treatment or other interventions, outcome
The accurate identification of STDs and the effective measures assessed, reported findings, and weaknesses
clinical management of STDs represent an important and biases in study design and analysis (available at
combined strategy necessary to improve reproductive www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/evidence.htm). This report
health and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre- contains 10 background articles that contain more com-
vention efforts [4]. This is especially relevant to women, prehensive discussions of the evidence used as the basis
adolescents, and infants, as untreated infections fre- for specific recommendations contained in the 2015
quently result in severe, long-term complications, includ- STD treatment guidelines. The specific background
ing facilitation of HIV infection, tubal infertility, adverse manuscripts in this supplement include comprehensive
pregnancy outcomes, and cancer [5–7]. For >30 years, discussion regarding the prevention, evaluation, and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) management of various sexually transmitted infections
publication of national guidelines for management of (STIs) and syndromes that have important implications
STDs has assisted clinicians with effective guidance on for clinical practice.
the delivery of optimal STD care. The CDC STD treat- Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is a common syn-
ment guidelines are the most widely referenced and au- drome encountered in clinical practice and is associated
thoritative source of information on STD treatment and with numerous etiologic agents, including Chlamydia
prevention strategies for clinicians who evaluate persons trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vag-
with STDs or those at risk for STDs. inalis, herpes simplex virus, and adenovirus [9–11].
The 2015 guidelines for the treatment of STDs Studies on the role of Ureaplasma have been inconsis-
were developed in consultation with an independent tent [12, 13], whereas uncultured or fastidious organ-
isms found in bacterial vaginosis have been associated
Correspondence: Kimberly A. Workowski, MD, FACP, FIDSA, CDC/OID/NCHHSTP/
with urethritis [14]. The spectrum of pathogens may
DSTDP/PDQIB, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, Mailstop MS E-27, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 differ between heterosexual men and men who have
(kgw2@cdc.gov).
sex with men, as some studies suggest that sexual pref-
Clinical Infectious Diseases® 2015;61(S8):S759–62
© Crown copyright 2015.
erence and associated sexual practices may have clinical
DOI: 10.1093/cid/civ771 relevance [15, 16]. However, in a significant proportion