Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) refer to a broad spectrum of bacterial, fungal, viral and protozoal infections that share a common mode of transmission through sexual contact.

Despite efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat, STIs continue to be an important public health concern, often affecting more marginalised groups in society.

Worldwide, over 357 million new cases of 1 of the 4 major STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis) occur each year in men and women aged 15–49 years, and, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 million STIs are acquired every day.

Antibiotic resistance in several genital pathogens, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium, causes therapeutic problems. Viral genital infections have become a therapeutic challenge, especially for prevention of STIs. Due to better knowledge of the long-term consequences of STIs and the connection between genital cancer and papillomavirus infections, sexual health services with screening programmes have been established in many European countries.

Improved molecular biological methods (Real-Time PCR assays) can detect symptomatic and asymptomatic infections in both, men and women.