[Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases]

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) have been revised and updated from 1996 in Japan. Revision will be made in the whole content of 2008 version and it will be published in the nearest months. In the diagnosis of gonococcal and chlamydial infection, newer nucleic acid amplification test kit (NAAT), Aptima Combo2 and Probetek ET, was developed and recommended to use. Diagnosis and treatment of gonococcal infection is problematic because of increase of pharyngeal infection and increase of resistant strains against many of antimicrobial agents. Modified Thayer-Martin culture medium or newer NAATs should be used in the diagnosis of pharyngeal gonococcal infection, and single 1 g dose of ceftriaxone should be used in the treatment of gonococcal infection including pharyngeal infection. In young students, increase of chlamydial infection is now main problem in Japan. Screening of chlamydial infection by using NAATs should be done. Much of clinical research to know the proper diagnosis and treatment of STD should be done to verify the evidences described in the guidelines and to make new evidences in the near future.