A preventable crisis: Reversing the STI surge

A preventable crisis: Reversing the STI surge

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are surging worldwide, posing a significant public health threat. The consequences of delayed diagnosis range from individual health complications to increased transmission rates, and even antibiotic resistance. MLO’s newest e-handbook provides laboratorians information on STIs and the cutting-edge diagnostic advancements in STI testing.

Some articles featured in the e-book, “A preventable crisis: Reversing the STI surge,” include the following:

The key to controlling sexually transmitted infections: Early diagnosis  

Early diagnosis for STIs is crucial for several reasons. First, earlier and faster treatment leads to a decrease in transmission. The sooner an STI is diagnosed, the quicker treatment can begin, reducing transmission and breaking infection chains. Second, early diagnosis can prevent severe complications. Untreated, STIs can lead to infertility, miscarriage, chronic pain, and increased susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Testing for sexually transmitted infections

There are more than 30 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause STIs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) 2022 STI Surveillance Report, more than 2.5 million cases of Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in the United States, making STIs a great public health concern.

Revealing the therapeutic potential of novel drugs for HPV-positive head and neck cancer 

The HPV virus is predominantly associated with the onset of cervical cancer, but its role in other malignancies has more recently been established. Effective antiviral therapies for HPV infection are lacking, and exciting new treatments may lie in the use of novel epigenetic drugs — bromodomain and extra-terminal domain inhibitors (BETis) — in combination with radiotherapy.

Sponsored by: Cepheid, Hologic, Roche Diagnostics USA, Thermo Fisher Scientific