ABSTRACT
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major health concern in the United States. This chapter focuses on the common bacterial STDs, their diagnosis, and treatment. Control of bacterial STDs is important because the presence of a bacterial infection in either partner increases the transmission rate of concomitant viral infections. Bacterial lesions in the patient with a viral infection increases viral shedding and sexual fluids. Chlamydia remains the most common STD in the United States, with over 3 million infections reported per year. Chancroid is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi. It is only transmitted by sexual contact, although autoinoculation into other body areas has been shown in patients with genital ulcers. Granuloma inguinale or donovanosis is due to the gram-negative bacterium calymmatobacterium granulomatis. Anorectal direct fluorescent antibody testing is particularly technically challenging due to bacterial contamination and fecal debris. A. F. Shigella and M. J. campylobacter are usually recognized as enteric pathogens causing acute diarrheal illness.
