Could a change in STI testing help bring down high infection rates?
A change in medical testing could help drive down rates of sexually transmitted infections in Australia. One in six Australians will get an STI - and the rates have been increasing in recent years.
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00:00 Could a change in how we test for STIs help bring down the high rates of infections in
00:08 Australia?
00:09 The number of syphilis cases has tripled over the past decade.
00:13 There was a drop during COVID-19, but otherwise you can see it's been steadily rising.
00:19 Rates of gonorrhea have also been increasing.
00:22 Chlamydia remains the most common STI, with about 94,000 confirmed cases a year.
00:28 A study from the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre found getting people a rapid test result could
00:34 help slow the spread.
00:38 It usually takes five to seven days to get answers back from a lab.
00:42 The common practice is for a doctor to prescribe an antibiotic based on the symptoms, rather
00:48 than wait for the test result.
00:50 You can imagine that is going to result in a lot of antibiotic overuse or over-treatment,
00:56 as well as misuse.
00:57 So during the study we had access to a rapid test.
01:01 They provided the result within a couple of hours.
01:04 It meant if the patient did have an STI, doctors could prescribe the correct antibiotic and
01:09 people could notify their sexual partners immediately.
01:13 There are other specific STIs that are developing resistance and knowing the actual antibiotic
01:19 that will treat that infection is even more important in combating rising STIs.
01:26 But converting to rapid testing in big, well-established clinics could be difficult and expensive.
01:33 There are a few factors that are likely contributing to the high rates of STIs.
01:38 The pandemic interrupted testing and healthcare.
01:42 Rates are higher in Aboriginal communities and remote locations, again pointing to a
01:46 lack of access to testing and treatment.
01:49 And effective HIV prevention medication may be leading to a reduction in condom use, particularly
01:56 among gay and bisexual men.
01:58 The Federal Government is rolling out a new campaign on social media and dating apps,
02:03 encouraging people to get tested and use protection.
02:07 Make STI testing your...
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