The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report on January 30. Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2022 provides the most current and complete data for nationally notifiable STIs for federally funded control programs.
CDC’s annual report underscores that STIs must be a public health priority. In 2022, more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were reported in the United States. The most alarming concerns center around the syphilis and congenital syphilis epidemics, signaling an urgent need for swift innovation and collaboration from all STI prevention partners. In addition to the syphilis epidemic worsening, reported gonorrhea cases declined for the first time in at least a decade while reported chlamydia cases were level. CDC will continue to examine this finding closely and look to 2023 data for better understanding, but recognize this finding may be a cause for an even closer look at public health efforts and redoubled prevention strategies. As STI services and related resources continue to rebound from the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic and mpox outbreak, we must act now to mobilize and execute a whole-of-nation approach if we hope to turn the tide.
