title: Rapid diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections.
abstract: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are responsible for an enormous burden of morbidity and mortality. Worldwide, millions of cases of STIs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhoea occur every year, and there is now an increase in antimicrobial resistance in pathogens, such as gonococcus. Delay in diagnosis is one of the factors that justifies the difficulty in controlling these infections. Rapid diagnostic tests allow the introduction of aetiological treatment at the first visit, and also leads to treating symptomatic and asymptomatic patients more effectively, as well as to interrupt the epidemiological transmission chain without delay. The World Health Organisation includes these tests in its global strategy against STIs.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijón, España.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otero-Guerra
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Blázquez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España; Departamento de Biología Funcional, Área de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Oviedo, España; Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, Instituto Oftalmológico Fernández-Vega, Oviedo, España. Electronic address: opsklins@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vazquez
mesh_terms: D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cribado de ITS; Infecciones de transmisión sexual; Point of care system; Screening assay; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sistemas de diagnóstico a la cabecera del enfermo