Understanding Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Data source:https://www.dsc-clinic.sg/Pati… and Education/STI/PublishingImages/2018 STI updates for Website.jpg What are STDs/STIs? Sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs/STIs) are most often spread by sexual intercourse.Examples of STDs include HIV, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhoea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and some forms of hepatitis. STDs used to be called venereal diseases (VD), and are among the most common contagious diseases. In 2018, the incidence of STDs in Singapore per 100,000 […]

STI INCIDENCE SINGAPORE/2018 UPDATE: What do we need to know? Who are at risk? What may be done?

Data source: https://www.dsc-clinic.sg/Patient-Care/Prevention%20and%20Education/STI/PublishingImages/2018%20STI%20updates%20for%20Website.jpg The Singapore Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections (or DSC) released their 2018 statistics on sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs/STIs) in Singapore. Like most developed countries, chlamydia has remained the most common STI in Singapore, with the number of newly diagnosed cases of 2,719 in 2018 alone. Gonorrhoea, followed by syphilis are the second and third most common STDs respectively. The highest […]

United States CDC Reports STDs all-time high in 2018

A press release from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported: The combined cases of syphilis , gonorrhea, and chlamydia reached an all-time high in the US in 2018 Half the STDs were reported in people between the ages of 15 and 24 Men who have sex with men (MSM) were disproportionately affected by the increase in […]

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE – WHERE ARE WE NOW?

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/ecfc-dog083018.php 2018 was the year which saw the emergence of Super Gonorrhea, where the bacteria were resistant to standard antibiotic treatment. There has been a recent update, based on samples collected from patients in 2016. In August this year, results of the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (Euro-GASP), were released. From a total of 2,660 samples […]

The Lancet: Response to HIV/AIDS epidemic at risk of ‘dangerous complacency’ as urgent change in approach is needed

HIV – Dangerous complacency, according to a new Lancet Commission led by the International AIDS About 37 million people worldwide live with HIV or Aids. And there are an estimated 1.8 million new cases every year. While new cases of HIV /Aids have been falling in recent years, infections have remained substantially higher for younger women than […]

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE – WHERE ARE WE NOW

There is a well-documented trend showing a sharp increase in the numbers of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. While this is a major concern, there is a more worrying problem emerging, namely, antibiotic resistance. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in Singapore. There is already significant antibiotic resistance to standard antibiotics given for this condition, which results in treatment failure […]

SHARP RISE IN GONORRHOEA AND SYPHILIS REPORTED IN AUSTRALIA

What do we need to know? Why does it matter? How does it affect us? The latest data from the Annual Surveillance Report 2017 (HIV , viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible diseases/infections (STDs/STIs) in Australia) by The Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society 2017 is now available: https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/report/annual-surveillance-report-hiv-viral-hepatitis-and-stis-australia-2017 We share the key findings below. Between 2012 and 2016: […]

RISE IN STD/STI INCIDENCE SINGAPORE: What do we need to know? Who are at risk? What may be done?

Data source: https://www.dsc-clinic.sg/Pati… The Singapore Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections (or DSC) revealed in January this year statistics on sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs/STIs) in Singapore. Like most developed countries, chlamydia has the highest incidence rates in Singapore, with the number of newly diagnosed cases of 2,900 in 2016 alone. Gonorrhoea, followed by syphilis are the second and third most common STDs respectively. While the highest […]

Syphilis – The emergence of a pandemic cluster

The introduction of the antibiotic, Penicillin in the mid-twentieth century effectively treated Syphilis. This is still the first-line treatment for Syphilis.  The first reported outbreaks of Syphilis were reported in Europe in 1495 and spread rapidly to other continents, resulting in a pandemic strain of syphilis.  According to recent scientific research at the University of […]