Sexually Transmitted Infections - What's New, What's Different?

Abstract

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections like syphilis or gonorrhea is still rising, particularly in the high-risk population of men having sex with men (MSM). Neisseria gonorrhoeae is capable to develop resistance to all antibiotics previously or currently used for treatment. Dual antimicrobial therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin is considered the current empirical first-line therapy. Since 2011 ceftriaxone-resistant strains have emerged in many countries and in 2018 the first case with high-level resistance to azithromycin and resistance to ceftriaxone was documented in the UK, making the development of new antimicrobials against gonorrhea a public health priority. HIV-pre-exposure-prophylaxis (HIV-PrEP) has recently been approved in Germany and may become an important complementary approach to reduce HIV transmission. However, appropriate counselling and STI testing has to be secured in PrEP users. The German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) now recommends human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for boys aged 9 - 14 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shortens the recommended interval from leaving a zika virus-endemic country until conception to 3 months.