Response to New STI Prevention Tools & Approaches Research at CROI 2023

February 20, 2023 – Attributable to Dr. Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention

More tools are desperately needed in the nation’s fight against STIs. Ongoing increases in reported STIs show no signs of slowing without long-term investment and game-changing innovations in STI prevention, rapid diagnostics, vaccine-development, and treatment. The recent momentum in research exploring STI prevention is encouraging, particularly in a field that has lacked innovation for so long.

As these promising findings are shared, it is exciting to see important pieces of a much larger puzzle falling into place, but there are still many gaps left to fill. Continued research and investment are needed to develop the right mix of testing, prevention, and treatment solutions for all groups impacted by STIs. And everyone – from the federal government, to state and local health departments, to healthcare providers – must commit to equitable access to all proven innovations from the start.

We look forward to more closely reviewing the data presented at CROI 2023, as well as the published findings from each of these studies. These and other data will be vital to our ongoing efforts to ensure CDC’s STI treatment and prevention guidance and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices vaccine recommendations are aligned with the latest science.

In the meantime, CDC has posted considerations for the use of doxycycline as STI PEP for providers and individuals considering this strategy as the agency finalizes the development of CDC’s more detailed interim clinical guidance on the use of doxycycline (doxy) as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).