Updated Guidelines for Care of STIs in Victims of Sexual Assault

Guidelines recommend expanded use of nonculture testing.

Sponsoring Organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Target Population: Clinicians who care for adults or children who present after sexual assault

Background: The CDC updated its 2010 guidelines for identification, prophylaxis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in victims of acute sexual assault.

Key Recommendations

Testing for STIs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas, is recommended for adults. Although testing cannot discriminate new infection from preexisting disease or disease in the assailant, testing has a high yield (about 18%) and may aid psychological care.
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have higher sensitivity than culture and are much easier to use. These guidelines rec…

Reviewing Author

Daniel M. Lindberg, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; MINDSOURCE

Editorial BoardsThe Quarterly Update: Reviews of Current Child Abuse Medical Research; Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesThe Helfer Society (Executive Committee Member)