7 Questions on Latest US STD Trends

April 22, 2022

Reported cases of gonorrhea, syphilis, and congenital syphilis surpassed 2019 levels in the US, while chlamydia cases declined, according to the 2020 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Surveillance Report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The annual report is based on case notification data provided to the CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Findings from the report serve as a reminder that STDs are still a significant public health concern, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Exactly how much did cases increase? And in which populations? Find key takeaways in the 7-question quiz below.

1. Which of the above was the most common notifiable STI in the US in 2020?

Answer: C. Chlamydia. In 2020, more than 1.5 million cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were reported to the CDC, making it the most common notifiable condition in the US for that year.

2. In 2020, 61% of all reported chlamydia cases were among persons aged 30-39 years. True or false?

Answer: B. False. In 2020, approximately 61% of all reported chlamydia cases were among persons aged 15-24 years

3. Between 2019 and 2020, the rate of reported gonorrhea increased 10%. True or false?

Answer: A. True. Between 2019 and 2020, the rate of reported gonorrhea increased 10%, going from 187.8 cases/100 000 population to 206.5/100 000 population.

4. In 2020, there were 677 769 reported cases of gonorrhea in the US. Approximately what percentage of all infections were resistant to at least 1 antibiotic?

Answer: D. 50%. In 2020, nearly half (49%) of all gonorrhea infections were estimated to be resistant to at least 1 antibiotic.

5. By approximately how much did the rate of reported syphilis (all stages) increase between 2019 and 2020?

Answer: A. 3%. Between 2019 and 2020, the rate of reported syphilis increased 3.3%, going from 39.5 cases/100 000 population to 40.8/100 000 population.

6. Which of the above regions had the highest rate of reported cases of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis in 2020?

Answer: C. West. In 2020, the West had the highest rate of reported cases of P&S syphilis (16.7 cases/100 000 population), followed by the South (13.2/100 000), the Northeast (10.6/100 000), and the Midwest (8.8/100 000).

7. By approximately how much did total reported cases of congenital syphilis (all stages) increase between 2016 and 2020?

Answer: E. >250%. There were 2148 cases of congenital syphilis reported in 2020 for a rate of 57.3/100 000 live births, representing a 254% increase relative to 2016.