Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major global public health challenge, with rising rates of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis observed across diverse populations. Epidemiological surveillance reveals heterogeneous trends: some regions report steep increases among adolescents and young adults, while others show stable or declining prevalence in key subgroups. Asymptomatic infections, particularly at extragenital sites, often drive transmission undetected, complicating control efforts. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae further threatens effective treatment and underscores the need for novel diagnostics. Advances in molecular assays, such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), enable rapid and sensitive detection of multiple pathogens from urogenital and extragenital specimens. Point-of-care tests and self-sampling strategies are expanding access to screening, especially in resource-limited settings and among marginalised communities. Integration of digital health tools for risk assessment and partner notification is enhancing case finding. Effective control demands a multipronged approach: robust surveillance systems to monitor incidence and resistance patterns, evidence-based screening policies to capture asymptomatic cases, and continued innovation in diagnostic platforms to maintain clinical and public health responsiveness.

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Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiology and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Epidemiology: the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related events within populations.

Prevalence: the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific infection at a given time.

Incidence: the number of new cases of an infection that develop in a population over a set period.

Asymptomatic infection: presence of a pathogen without noticeable signs or symptoms in the host.

Opt-out testing: a screening model in which tests are performed routinely unless the individual declines.

Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT): a highly sensitive molecular technique that amplifies and detects pathogen genetic material.

References

1. Sharp increase in gonorrhoea notifications among young people, EU/EEA, July 2022 to June 2023. Eurosurveillance (2024).
2. Increased syphilis testing and detection of late latent syphilis among women after switching from risk-based to opt-out testing strategy in an urban Australian sexual health clinic: a retrospective observational study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific (2023).
3. Rebound of Gonorrhea after Lifting of COVID-19 Preventive Measures, England - Volume 30, Number 2—February 2024 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases (2024).