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. 2014 Mar 20;32(14):1527-35.
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.07.087. Epub 2014 Feb 25.

Toward global prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs): the need for STI vaccines

Sami L Gottlieb  1 , Nicola Low  2 , Lori M Newman  3 , Gail Bolan  4 , Mary Kamb  4 , Nathalie Broutet  3
Affiliations

Toward global prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs): the need for STI vaccines

Sami L Gottlieb et al. Vaccine. .

Abstract

An estimated 499 million curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs; gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and trichomoniasis) occurred globally in 2008. In addition, well over 500 million people are estimated to have a viral STI such as herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) or human papillomavirus (HPV) at any point in time. STIs result in a large global burden of sexual, reproductive, and maternal-child health consequences, including genital symptoms, pregnancy complications, cancer, infertility, and enhanced HIV transmission, as well as important psychosocial consequences and financial costs. STI control strategies based primarily on behavioral primary prevention and STI case management have had clear successes, but gains have not been universal. Current STI control is hampered or threatened by several behavioral, biological, and implementation challenges, including a large proportion of asymptomatic infections, lack of feasible diagnostic tests globally, antimicrobial resistance, repeat infections, and barriers to intervention access, availability, and scale-up. Vaccines against HPV and hepatitis B virus offer a new paradigm for STI control. Challenges to existing STI prevention efforts provide important reasons for working toward additional STI vaccines. We summarize the global epidemiology of STIs and STI-associated complications, examine challenges to existing STI prevention efforts, and discuss the need for new STI vaccines for future prevention efforts.

Keywords: Prevention and control; Sexually transmitted diseases; Vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

We report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Estimated numbers of new cases and incidence rates per 1000 population of curable sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and trichomoniasis) among 15–49 year-olds by WHO region, 2008 [9].
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Key interventions and challenges for sexually transmitted infection prevention and control.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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