What’s New
The latest from CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, as well as new resources, programs, and website updates.
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Surveillance, 2020 (April 12, 2022)
- Announcement: CDC’s STD Director on the release of national STD trends in the U.S.
- Press Release: New data suggest STDs in the U.S. continued to increase during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Communication Resources: Social media messages, graphics, and other materials to help you engage with your community
STD Awareness Week (April 10-16, 2022)
- STD Awareness Week Campaign Toolkit: Ideas on planning activities for the observance
- Each campaign offers a variety of premade social media graphics and customizable messages
- NEW! Prepare Before You’re There: Encourages people to make a prevention “game plan” before they’re in the “heat of the moment”
- GYT: Get Yourself Tested: Encourages young people to get tested for STDs and HIV
- Talk | Test | Treat: Encourages people and healthcare providers to take these three actions
STD Prevention and Control in 2021: A Year in Review
- Dear Colleague Letter: Dr. Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Division of STD Prevention Director, on STD prevention and control accomplishments in 2021 and upcoming events and resources for 2022.
FDA Alert: Possible False RPR Reactivity with Syphilis Test
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: A note from Dr. Leandro Mena, Director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention on FDA’s recent alertexternal icon about the Bio-Rad Laboratories BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total & RPR kit. (December 20, 2021)
The First Friday of October is National Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Recognition Day
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: A special thanks from Dr. Jonathan Mermin, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention Director, and Dr. Leandro Mena, Division of STD Prevention Director
Historic Five‐Year Investment for Disease Intervention Specialists Workforce
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: CDC’s Division of STD Prevention distributes $200 million to health departments for the first year of the CDC Disease Intervention Specialists Workforce Development Supplement. (September 24, 2021)
Congenital Syphilis Diagnosed Beyond the Neonatal Period in the United States: 2014-2018external icon: New study finds 67 symptomatic infants were diagnosed with congenital syphilis beyond the neonatal period (>28 days) during this time. (August 31, 2021)
Dr. Leandro Mena is the new Director for the Division of STD Prevention
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: Dr. Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Division of STD Prevention Director, on the future of STI prevention and joining CDC. (August 2, 2021)
Dear Colleague Letter from the Division of STD Prevention:pdf icon CDC Awards $11.1 Million for HIV Prevention Services in STD Clinics.
- Dear Colleague Letter from the Division of HIV Prevention: Advancing the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative in the U.S. with a $117 Million Investment.
2021 STI Treatment Guidelines (July 22, 2021)
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: Raul Romaguera, DMD, MPH, Acting Director for DSTDP, on CDC’s publication of the 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines, including notable screening and treatment updates.
- Provider Resources: Access print-friendly version of the wall chart, pocket guide, and guidelines.
- Recommendations for Providing Quality STD Clinical Services (STD QCS): Guidelines companion with recommendations and tools to help healthcare settings improve STD care services.
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Funding to Hire and Train Public Health Workersexternal icon
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: White House announces $1.13 billion investment to strengthen the disease intervention specialists workforce. (May 13, 2021)
Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevalence, Incidence, and Cost Estimates in the United States (January 25, 2021)
- At A Glance: STI Prevalence, Incidence, and Cost Estimates in the United States
- Social Media Materials: Messages and Graphics to Help Spread the Word
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: Announcement about Updated STI Prevalence, Incidence, and Cost Estimates
- Press release: CDC Estimates 1 in 5 People in the U.S. Have a Sexually Transmitted Infection
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: HHS launches nation’s first-ever plan of its kind for STIs. (December 18, 2020)

STD Care and Prevention Guidance During Disruption of Clinical Services
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: Shortage of STI Diagnostic Kits and Supplies (September 8, 2020)
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: Providing effective care and prevention when facility-based services and in-person patient-clinician contact is limited. (April 6, 2020)
-
- Update: STD Treatment Optionspdf icon (May 13, 2020)
-

The Toolkit for Technology-based Partner Services has been updated! You will find new examples from the field, as well as information about how to conduct partner services using text messages and geolocating mobile apps.
- IPS Toolkit
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon from Dr. Gail Bolan, Director, Division of STD Prevention

New case stories are available for phase two of CDC’s Community Approaches to Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases (CARS). Learn how each funding recipient used community engagement to address health disparities and increase STD prevention. (June 8, 2020)

New analysis finds 1 in 2 newborn syphilis cases occur due to gaps in testing and treatment during prenatal care. (June 4, 2020)
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Missed Opportunities for Prevention of Congenital Syphilis – United States, 2018
- Dear Colleague Letter:pdf icon from Dr. Gail Bolan, Director, Division of STD Prevention

Recommendations for Providing Quality STD Clinical Services (STD QCS): New CDC report highlights services healthcare settings can offer to provide the highest-quality STD care for their patients. (January 6, 2020)
- Dear Colleague Letterpdf icon: Dr. Gail Bolan, Division of STD Prevention Director, on how STD QCS can help guide clinical operations in healthcare settings to optimize STD care services.
- Graphic: explaining how STD QCS and the STI Treatment Guidelines can work together to optimize care.

New CDC analysis suggests gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for extragenital STDs [i.e., chlamydia or gonorrhea in the throat or rectum] (April 11, 2019)
Medscape Commentaryexternal icon: Dr. Laura H. Bachmann, MD, MPH, on the surge in congenital syphilis and what healthcare providers can do to stop it (January 23, 2019)