Clinician Advisory
CDC STD Treatment Guidelines
Updated November 18, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021, providing current evidence-based diagnostic, management, and treatment recommendations, and serving as a source of clinical guidance for managing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The new guidelines include notable updates from the previous 2015 guidance, including:
- updated treatment recommendations for chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and pelvic inflammatory disease;
- updated treatment recommendations for uncomplicated gonorrhea in neonates, children, and other specific clinical situations (e.g., proctitis, epididymitis, sexual assault), which builds on broader treatment changes published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report;
- information on FDA-cleared diagnostic tests for Mycoplasma genitalium and rectal and pharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhea;
- expanded risk factors for syphilis testing among pregnant patients;
- recommended two-step serologic testing for diagnosing genital herpes simplex virus;
- harmonized recommendations for human papillomavirus vaccination with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; and
- recommended universal hepatitis C testing in alignment with CDC’s 2020 hepatitis C testing recommendations.
For questions about the updated 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines, you can email STDInfo@snohd.org or call 425.339.5261. To report cases of notifiable STI, utilize the STD reporting form located on the Snohomish Health District website and fax to 425.339.8707