Medscape: STI Rates Fall After DoxyPEP
Medscape recently interviewed Christopher Foltz, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Cedars-Sinai, about new research showing that sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates fell sharply at a southern U.S. clinic after it began prescribing the antibiotic doxycycline to patients following unprotected sex as post-exposure prophylaxis, or DoxyPEP.
The study found that rates of STIs dropped by about two-thirds after the clinic began prescribing DoxyPEP, while testing frequency remained the same.
Foltz, who was not involved in the research, told Medscape the findings were notable because they included people who often struggle to access preventive care.
“The main takeaway is that this study really focused on higher-risk populations that traditionally would likely not have as easy access [to DoxyPEP] for numerous reasons,” Foltz said. “This has long been the challenge with any preventive measure: How do you get in to the people who need it the most?”
Foltz told Medscape that clinics should build clear protocols to make sure everyone at risk is offered DoxyPEP. He said protocols can help “remove any provider bias” and called “for continued efforts to educate high-risk populations.”
He noted that early concerns from the medical community about side effects and bacterial resistance have largely been addressed. The bigger obstacle, he said, is access.
“Unfortunately, high-risk populations typically live in areas with less access to general healthcare,” Foltz told Medscape. He pointed to mobile health clinics and telemedicine as creative ways to expand education and prevention.
The remaining challenge, he added, is determining how to “re-create this on a much larger scale so we can really get the word out about Doxy and make it available to all of those who need it.”
Clinicians recommend that a single dose of doxycycline, taken as DoxyPEP within 72 hours of unprotected sex, can help prevent certain bacterial STIs, but it should not replace condoms.
Read the complete article from Medscape.