Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms. Bacterial STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, can be cured with antibiotics. Most STDs caused by viruses, such as genital herpes, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, cannot be cured, but they can usually be treated to relieve symptoms and help prevent complications. If untreated, STDs can have consequences ranging from mild brief illness to serious complications such as infertility, tubal pregnancy, cancer, stroke and death. Many STDs can cause serious health problems, including death, in infants born to infected mothers.

STDs are passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal or oral sex, but generally not by kissing. Most STDs cause no symptoms at first and persons do not know they are infected until they are tested or complications occur. A person may have a greater chance of catching HIV if he or she already has another STD. Similarly, HIV may be easily transmitted to others if the infected person also has another STD.

Program Purpose

The STD Control Program strives to reduce the frequency of STDs, including HIV, and their complications in residents of King County.

Key Result

By 2012, reduce the annual chlamydia prevalence for King County women ages 15-29 tested through the Infertility Prevention Project by 25% (from 5.6% in 2006 to 4.2%).

Services

The STD Control Program undertakes an array of interventions and activities to prevent STDs and their complications. Most activities are mandated by Washington state law.

	Clinical services. The STD Control Program provides clinical assessment, screening tests, treatment, education and risk reduction counseling for STD and HIV at the STD Clinic at Harborview Medical Center (HMC), selected satellite clinics, and outreach venues such as bath houses; disseminates guidelines for diagnosis and management of STDs; offers expert consultation for all county health care providers and their patients; funds STD testing at community clinics; and provides medical direction for STD clinical services at other Public Health service centers.
	Surveillance. The STD Control Program collects STD case reports from health care providers, monitors the results of STD tests at King County laboratories, and analyzes local trends in STD to guide prevention priorities and interventions.
	Partner management. To curb the spread of STD and HIV in the community, the STD Control Program notifies the sex partners of persons with HIV and other selected STDs, offers prevention counseling, and ensures the partners’ examination and/or treatment.
	Education and training. The STD Control Program provides STD clinical training for local health care providers, medical students, residents in training, and other health professionals, in collaboration with the Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center.
	Epidemiologic and clinical research. The STD Control Program continually explores innovative approaches to STD/HIV prevention, surveillance, and modification of sexual behavior, and conducts research on the diagnosis and treatment of STDs. Most research is funded by grants from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies.