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The Washington State Department of Health, STD Program, is
responsible for the control and prevention of sexually transmitted
diseases (STD) within the state of Washington.
The section assists state, local and community efforts with interrupting the
transmission of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B and other STDs and
reducing the health burden and costs associated with these infections.
These are the major components of this program:
- Surveillance:
The monitoring of reported cases provides the infrastructure for
preventing and controlling sexually transmitted diseases. The
collection, analysis and dissemination of this information are
essential to identify interventions, strategies and resources needed
to halt the spread of disease.
- Chlamydia:
Chlamydia has been a reportable infection since 1988 and remains the
most commonly reportable STD
- Gonorrhea:
Gonorrhea declined through the nineties but has increased since 1998.
- Syphilis:
Syphilis is at very low level except for outbreaks among high-risk
groups.
- Partner Notification:
The notification of partners exposed to individuals infected with an STD
helps assure their access to clinical services and counseling to protect
themselves from future STD risk.
- Laboratory Screening:
The testing of asymptomatic persons at risk of infection is important in the
control of STDs. General chlamydia screening guidelines and diagnostic
testing options are available at (CT
Screening Tool 528KB PDF). The Infertility Prevention Project
provides screening for chlamydia to over 60,000 women attending 140 clinics
throughout the state. In addition, all pregnant women are routinely
tested for syphilis to prevent congenital syphilis among newborns of those
infected.
- Risk Reduction:
Behavioral risk reduction is carried out through general educational
materials distributed throughout the state.
(Sexually Transmitted Diseases Booklet (90KB PDF.) Annually over
120,000 language and education level appropriate materials are distributed.
These focus on abstinence, delay of sexual activity and monogamy as well as
individual diseases and conditions. STD Program helps people make healthy
choices by explaining the kinds of behavior that increase risk of STD
infection.
- Patient Management:
Washington State assures that adequate clinical services are available to
people in need of STD testing and treatment (STD
Diagnostic & Treatment Facilities). Patients diagnosed with reportable
STDs are monitored for quality of services using Centers for Disease Control
& Prevention's (CDC) Treatment
Guidelines as the "Standard of Care".
- Professional Development:
Washington State assures health care providers have access to training and
resources through the Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center. This
center, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and associated with the
University of Washington, offers comprehensive training on prevention,
diagnosis, management and treatment of STD’s.
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