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Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) constitute an epidemic of tremendous magnitude, with an estimated 15 million persons acquiring a new STD each year [1]. Effective clinical management of STDs represents a strategic element in prevention of HIV infection and in efforts to improve reproductive and sexual health. Clinicians who evaluate persons with STDs or those at risk for STDs should be aware of the current national guidelines for STD treatment. The 2002 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for the treatment of STDs provide clinical guidance in the appropriate assessment and management of STDs [2]. The scope and content of these guidelines continues to evolve, reflecting changes not only in clinical experience and epidemiology but also in changes in the health care environment and the circumstances under which clinical services are delivered.

The 2002 guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases were developed in consultation with public- and private-sector professionals knowledgeable in the management of STDs, using an evidence-based approach. A systematic literature review was performed that focused on peer-reviewed journal articles and published abstracts that have become available since publication of the 1998 guidelines. On the basis of this review process, background papers were developed, and the available evidence was evaluated during a meeting of consultants in September 2000. A draft report was then circulated to professional associations, STD treatment experts, and other agencies, organizations, and individuals representing diverse perspectives on issues related to STD treatment. The present supplement describes advances in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of STDs and has implications for current clinical practice.

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