2018 STD Prevention Conference

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August 28, 2018 – New CDC Analysis Shows Steep and Sustained Increases in STDs

The biennial National STD Prevention Conference took place in Washington, D.C., from Aug. 27-30, 2018, under the theme, “Intersecting Epidemics, Integrated Solutions.” As part of the official conference press briefing, CDC presented preliminary data showing five-year trends in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that included preliminary data for 2017. The analysis found that the nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis reported to CDC for 2017 exceeded the previous 2016 record by more than 200,000 cases. It also found that from 2013 to 2017:

  • Recent increases in STDs have continued for four consecutive years.
  • Syphilis cases nearly doubled.
  • Gonorrhea cases increased by 67%.
  • Chlamydia remained at record highs.

The latest information on the continued threat of untreatable gonorrhea was also discussed, along with solutions to counter the nation’s STD epidemic.

Resources:

Graphics:

These high-resolution, public domain images are ready to download and print in your publication. Click on a graphic to see it in high-resolution. For your convenience, we have included a table that contains the specific data from the report used to generate these charts. These images are in the public domain and are thus free of any copyright restrictions. As a matter of courtesy, we ask that the content provider be credited and notified of any public or private usage of an image.

The U.S. is Experiencing Steep, Sustained Increases in STDs

This infographic presents information on the steep,sustained increases in STDs. The graphic in the first section contains three bar graphs. The first illustrates the 31% increase of total combined diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in 2013 and 2017 (1.8 million cases and 2.3 million cases, respectively). The second bar chart illustrates the 67% increase in diagnosed gonorrhea cases in 2013 and 2017 (333,004 and 555,608 cases, respectively). The third bar chart illustrates the 76% increase in diagnoses syphilis cases between 2013 and 2017 (17,375 and 60,644 cases, respectively). Finally, the graphic also shows that there were 1.7 million cases of diagnosed chlamydia – making it the most common condition reported to CDC. The second section says Diagnosed cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis represent just a small fraction of the true disease burden. Left untreated these STDs can produce severe, adverse effects: infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and increased HIV risk. The third section contains three facts about the continued concerns about antibiotic resistant gonorrhea: 1) Gonorrhea is expected to eventually wear down our last highly effective antibiotic. 2) Lab tests show a small but growing fraction of gonorrhea samples have signs of emerging antibiotic resistance and 3) CDC recommends a two-drug combination to preserve our last highly effective antibiotic.

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CDC’s preliminary surveillance data found recent increases in STDs have continued for four consecutive years — and that the nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis reported to CDC for 2017 exceed the previous 2016 record by more than 200,000 cases. Additionally, the threat of untreatable gonorrhea persists in the United States.

Steep, Sustained Increases in STDs, 2013-2017

The graphic contains three bar graphs. The first illustrates the 31% increase of total combined diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in 2013 and 2017 (1.8 million cases and 2.3 million cases, respectively). The second bar chart illustrates the 67% increase in diagnosed gonorrhea cases in 2013 and 2017 (333,004 and 555,608 cases, respectively). The third bar chart illustrates the 76% increase in diagnoses syphilis cases between 2013 and 2017 (17,375 and 60,644 cases, respectively). Finally, the graphic also shows that there were 1.7 million cases of diagnosed chlamydia – making it the most common condition reported to CDC.

View High Resolution Version
Preliminary data found that from 2013 to 2017:

  • Recent increases in STDs have continued for four consecutive years.
  • Syphilis cases nearly doubled.
  • Gonorrhea cases increased by 67%.
  • Chlamydia remained at record highs.
Undiagnosed STDs Can Lead to Severe Health Problems

This graphic says: Diagnosed cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis represent just a small fraction of the true disease burden. Left untreated these STDs can produce severe, adverse effects: infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and increased HIV risk.

View High Resolution Version
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are curable with antibiotics, yet most cases go undiagnosed and untreated — which can lead to severe adverse health effects.

Continued Concerns About Antibiotic Resistant Gonorrhea

This graphic depicts three facts about the continued concerns about antibiotic resistant gonorrhea: 1) Gonorrhea is expected to eventually wear down our last highly effective antibiotic. 2) Lab tests show a small but growing fraction of gonorrhea samples have signs of emerging antibiotic resistance and 3) CDC recommends a two-drug combination to preserve our last highly effective antibiotic.

View High Resolution Version
In addition to the sharp increase in gonorrhea cases, new CDC data show that we continue to see warning signs that resistance is emerging — and that the threat of untreatable gonorrhea persists in the United States.

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Page last reviewed: August 28, 2018
Content source: National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention