7 Questions on US STI Trends
The CDC just released its annual STD surveillance report. Are you caught up on the latest trends? Try your hand at these 7 questions to find out.
1. Which of the above was the most common notifiable STI in the US in 2023?
Answer: C. Chlamydia. In 2023, more than 1.6 million cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were reported to the CDC, making it the most common notifiable condition in the US for that year. This case count corresponds to a rate of 492.2 cases/100 000 population, which was similar to the rate in 2021 (495 cases per 100 000).
2. In 2023, 55.8% of all reported chlamydia cases were among persons aged 30-39 years. True or false?
Answer: B. False. In 2023, 55.8% of all reported chlamydia cases were among persons aged 15-24 years. Decreases in rates of diagnosed and reported chlamydia during 2023 were most noticeable among women aged 15-24 years, one of the populations targeted for chlamydia screening.
3. Between 2022 and 2023, the rate of reported gonorrhea decreased nearly 8%. True or false?
Answer: A. True. Between 2022 and 2023, the rate of reported gonorrhea decreased 7.7%, going from 194.4 cases/100 000 population to 179.5/100 000 population.
4. In 2023, the rates of gonorrhea were highest among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons. True or false?
Answer: B. False. In 2023, rates of gonorrhea were highest among non-Hispanic Black or African American persons (557.8 cases per 100 000), followed by non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons (292.2 cases/100 000) and non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander persons (181.3 cases/100 000).
5. Approximately how many cases of syphilis (all stages including congenital syphilis) were reported in 2023?
Answer: C. 200 000. In 2023, 209 253 cases of syphilis were reported which is the greatest number of cases reported since 1950 and an increase of 1.0% since 2022.
6. Between 2022 and 2023, the rate of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis decreased by approximately how much?
Answer: B. 10%. Between 2022 and 2023, the rate of P&S syphilis decreased 10.7%, which is the first substantial decrease in P&S syphilis since 2001.
7. By approximately how much did total reported cases of congenital syphilis increase between 2019 and 2023?
Answer: C. 106%. There were 3382 cases of congenital syphilis reported in 2023, representing a 106.1% increase relative to 2019 when there were 1884 cases reported.
In 2023, more than 2.4 million cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were reported in the United States, according to the CDC's 2023 Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance Report. The annual report, which compiles data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System and various monitoring programs like the STI Surveillance Network, highlights a potential slowdown in the STI epidemic following years of rising rates. However, the CDC emphasized that certain populations and regions remain disproportionately affected. Explore the key findings from the latest report in the quiz above.
