Sexually Transmitted Infections
From the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV Epidemiology Annual Report. Read the report.
Key Resources
- Sexual Health and STI/HIV Screening Guidelines
- CDC STI Screening Recommendation, 2021
- Sexually Transmitted Infection Treatment Guidelines
- STI Summary of CDC Treatment Guidelines 2021 (Pocket Book)
- CA STI Treatment Guidelines Table for Adults & Adolescents
- CDC Recommendations for Providing Quality STD Clinical Services, 2020
- Adult AIDS Case Report Form (ACRF)
- Confidential Morbidity Report (CMR) Form for All Reportable Diseases (Except for Perinatal Hepatitis B, TB, or HIV/AIDS)
- CDPH: How to Report STIs with CMR
Santa Clara County is experiencing record-high rates of syphilis, a sexually transmitted Infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can cause serious health effects without adequate treatment, especially when transmitted from a pregnant person to their fetus.
Local Syphilis Recommendations and Resources
Local rates are especially high among females of childbearing age, making Santa Clara Count a high-risk jurisdiction. The County STD Controller recommends all providers follow guidelines for syphilis screening in high-risk jurisdictions, in accordance with the recently updated California Guidelines for Syphilis Screening to Prevent Congenital Syphilis and the 2021 CDC STI Screening Recommendations. Providers must also comply with state law that requires syphilis testing during pregnancy.
The local STD Controller also strongly recommends that emergency departments and urgent care settings offer routine opt-out screening for syphilis and HIV in accordance with recommendations from CDPH . The STD/HIV Prevention & Control Branch is available to provide technical assistance to providers wishing to implement or automate the above screening guidelines , please contact [email protected] for more information.
For questions about complicated syphilis cases or to access a patient’s syphilis history, providers can call our syphilis investigators at (408) 792-3739.
CDPH Dear Colleague Letter Opt-Out ED Screening 3/28/22
- Syphilis Provider Toolkit
- Syphilis Fact Sheet
- CDPH Syphilis Screening Recommendations for the Prevention of Congenital Syphilis
- Syphilis Pocket Guide for Providers
- Primary and Secondary Syphilis Treatment
- Latent Syphilis Treatment
- Tertiary Syphilis Treatment
- Neurosyphilis and Ocular Syphilis Treatment
- Syphilis Among Persons Living With HIV
- Syphilis Result Interpretation
Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI) is an uncommon, but severe, complication of untreated gonorrhea that has been increasing across California in recent years. DGI occurs when the sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae invades the bloodstream and spreads to distant sites in the body, leading to clinical manifestations such as septic arthritis, polyarthralgia, tenosynovitis, petechial/pustular skin lesions, bacteremia, or, on rare occasions, endocarditis, or meningitis.
If you identify a case of DGI in a Santa Clara County resident:
- Complete DGI form
- Fax DGI form (408) 797-3722
- Follow up with a phone call to (408) 792-3739 to ensure report was received
- For more information for providers on DGI:
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. N. gonorrhoeae infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and or urethra. N. gonorrhoeae can also infect the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum. To combat rising rates an emerging drug resistance, CDC recently updated the treatment recommendations for uncomplicated gonorrhea infections (STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021).
Gonorrhea Resources
Chlamydia is an STI caused by infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and is the most common reportable disease in Santa Clara County (Santa Clara County Health Data and Statistics). It can cause cervicitis, urethritis, and proctitis. In people with a vagina and uterus, these infections can lead to, pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal factor infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain.
Chlamydia Resources
Vulvovaginal itching, burning, irritation, odor and/or discharge can be caused by a variety of infections. Clinical evaluation and laboratory testing are required to distinguish among them and determine the appropriate treatment.
Bacterial Vaginosis vs. Trichomonas Provider Toolkit
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition that happens when there is too much of certain bacteria in the vagina. This changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. Recurrences are common even after appropriate treatment, and the STD Controller is available for case consultation in cases of treatment failure and recurrences.
Trichomoniasis (or “trich”) is a very common STI caused by infection with the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. The CDC recently updated the recommendation for treatment of vaginal trichomoniasis infections. Although symptoms of the disease vary, most people who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected. Recurrence and reinfection are common, and antimicrobial resistance may be increasing. The STD Controller is available for case consultation in instances of repeated reinfection or treatment failure.
Vulvovaginal Candidiasis is a common cause of vaginal itching and discharge, usually caused by Candida albicans and occasionally by other Candida species or yeasts. Patients with recurrent VVC without known cause should be tested for HIV. Recurrence and reinfection are common, and antimicrobial resistance may be increasing. The STD Controller is available for case consultation in instances of repeated reinfection or treatment failure, and the Public Health Department can assist with advanced antimicrobial susceptibility testing as needed.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common STI, with about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, many among people in their late teens and early 20s. Most individuals will clear HPV infections without intervention, but some types can cause genital warts or progress to cause cervical, vaginal, penile, anorectal, or head and neck cancers. Vaccination is the most important method of preventing HPV-related cancers. Some populations are recommended to receive routine screening for HPV-related cervical changes and infections.
HPV Resources
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It most often occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria spread from your vagina to your uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.
The signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease can be subtle or mild. Some people may not experience any signs or symptoms. As a result, some people might not realize they have it until they have trouble getting pregnant or you develop chronic pelvic pain.
PID Resources
HCV Prevention and Treatment
CDC Prevention Guidelines for Hepatitis C Screening Among Adults - 2020
Rapid increases in acute infections among young adults, including reproductive-aged persons, have put multiple generations at risk for chronic hepatitis C. CDC now recommends one-time hepatitis C testing of all adults (18 years and older) and all pregnant women during every pregnancy. CDC continues to recommend people with risk factors, including people who inject drugs, be tested regularly.
HCV Guidance: Recommendations for Testing, Managing and Treating Hepatitis C
Resource is an updated web experience to facilitate easier and faster access to recommendations for testing, managing and treating HCV by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Includes access to a Simplified HCV Treatment Algorithm for Treatment-Naïve Adults Without Cirrhosis.
HCV FDA Approved Medications
Learn more about approved FDA treatments for hepatitis C, prescribing information, clinical studies and obtain access to slide decks.
HCV Toolkit & Resources – Southeast AIDS Education & Training Center
The purpose of this training and resources are to improve providers’ capacity to screen, medically manage, and provide advanced care for patients with Hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C Linkage Program
The Public Health Department is now offering support and linkage to treatment for individuals who have a known Hepatitis C diagnosis. The program aims to promote better health outcomes to HCV treatment, education and supportive services. Services are free and confidential and include:
- Connecting to HCV care and treatment
- Assessing barriers to care including health insurance
- Navigating through the HCV care plan to promote successful completion of treatment
- Reducing risk for reinfection
To refer clients, please complete the HCV Linkage Referral Form and email to [email protected]. For more information, call (408) 792-5128.
HIV Prevention PrEP and PEP
PrEP and PEP For Your Patients
- TRUVADA for PrEP is a once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex, when taken every day. Also available as generic Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate.
- DESCOVY for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a once-daily prescription medicine for adults and adolescents at risk of HIV. It helps lower the chances of getting HIV through sex.
- APRETUDE is given every other month by a healthcare provider after initiation injections have been given 1 month apart for 2 consecutive months.
What is PEP?
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is an HIV prevention option that should be used only in emergency situations. PEP must be initiated within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to HIV.
PrEP/PEP Navigation Services for Clients
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, all Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Navigation Services are conducted remotely via telephone. If you are interested in PrEP please complete our online referral form or call us at (408) 792-3250. We will get in touch with you to assist you with your PrEP needs.
Santa Clara County HIV Testing Services
HIV testing is recommended for all persons seeking STI evaluation who are not already known to have HIV infection. Testing should be routine at the time of the STI evaluation, regardless of whether the patient reports any specific behavioral risks for HIV.
HIV Treatment
Health care providers play an important role in helping patients initiate ART, including describing the benefits of early initiation of ART, offering and prescribing ART, helping to manage long-term ART use, and providing information on other interventions that can reduce HIV transmission risk. Contact us at [email protected] for assistance setting up a Rapid ART Initiation Program in your clinic.
Undetectable = Untransmittable
Antiretroviral therapy keeps HIV from making copies of itself. When a person living with HIV begins an antiretroviral treatment regimen, their viral load drops. For almost everyone who starts taking their HIV medication daily as prescribed, viral load will drop to an undetectable level in six months or less. Continuing to take HIV medications as directed is imperative to stay undetectable.
STI Exposure Notification and Partner Services
The Public Health Department offers Partner Services, a program designed to help inform the partners of your patients of potential exposure to HIV or an STI. We can then assist Notified partners in receiving appropriate testing and/or empiric treatment or post-exposure prophylaxis.
Patients with infections have the option to:
- Obtain materials on how to notify their partners
- Schedule a dual notification with a trained Public Health HIV/STI counselor to help you notify your partner
- Request a trained Public Health HIV/STI counselor to notify your partner anonymously
Partner Services is a free, voluntary, and confidential service and offered with all testing done at the Crane Center.
For more information, please call the Crane Center at: (408) 792-3720
Expedited Partner Therapy
Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is the clinical practice of prescribing medications to the sex partners of patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas. Special legal protections in California allow clinicians to prescribe such medications to their patients’ partners without without the health care provider first examining the partner.
A prescriber can legally prescribe treatment for the partner(s) in any of the following ways:
- If the patient provides the partners’ names, the prescriber may write a separate prescription for the partners without having clinically evaluated the partners.
- The prescriber may write a single prescription for both the patient and the partners by adding the partners’ name to the prescription and increasing the quantity appropriately.
- The prescriber may simply add “and partner(s)” to the name on the prescription and increase the quantity appropriately.
- A clinic may dispense medication directly to the patient for delivery to partners (patient-delivered partner therapy or PDPT), if dispensed with information about its use.
A separate prescription for each partner is preferred. However, all options are valid, and all prescription types can be filled by a pharmacist. Options 2 and 3 can be billed to the patient’s insurance in most instances inclusive of the treatment for the partner(s).
Patient-Delivered Partner Therapy (PDPT): The Most Common Type of EPT
Essential Access Health's Chlamydia/Gonorrhea (CT/GC) Patient-Delivered Partner Therapy (PDPT) Distribution Program offers certain clinics the ability to receive free packages of STI treatment medications to be dispensed to patients with an STI diagnosis, for delivery to their partners. This is a great option for uninsured or privately insured patients.
Providers can refer to the Essential Access Health PDPT Distribution Program to learn more about eligibility, participation, registration, and the order process.
Client Resources
To enroll in the PrEP-AP, uninsured applicants must also enroll in the drug manufacturer’s Patient Assistance Program. Currently Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead) is the sole manufacturer of Truvada® for PrEP Clients enrolled in Gilead’s Patient Assistance Program will receive Truvada® free of charge from Gilead. Clients are required to maintain eligibility in both programs to receive PrEP-AP benefits. This includes re-enrolling every twelve months in both PrEP-AP and Gilead’s Patient Assistance Program.
Medicare clients without drug coverage must enroll in the Gilead Patient Assistance Program, which provides Truvada® free of charge, before enrolling into PrEP-AP. Medicare clients with drug coverage are not eligible for the Gilead Patient Assistance Program, but are eligible for PrEP-AP.
Getting to Zero Program
The Getting to Zero program offers opportunities for community providers and organizations to request academic detailing, clinical trainings or other technical assistance related to STD/HIV screening, testing, treatment and clinical care practices. Please email [email protected] to request detailing, training or technical assistance.
STI and HIV Financial Resources for Clients
- Office: 770 S Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128 (Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone number: (866) 967-4677
CDPH HIV Care Branch
FAQ: For Insured Clients (PDF)
FAQ: For Uninsured Clients (PDF)