The World Health Organization (WHO) released a consolidated operational handbook on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on February 11, 2026, aiming to streamline prevention and care efforts globally. The handbook, developed according to the WHO’s rigorous guideline development standards, compiles recommendations published between 2016 and 2025.
The new resource is structured around the STI prevention and care cascade, encompassing ten chapters that address primary prevention, syndromic management, asymptomatic case identification, diagnostics, treatment, partner management, surveillance, service delivery, and integration with existing healthcare platforms like HIV, sexual health, and antenatal clinics. It provides ready-to-utilize tools, including syndromic management flowcharts, diagnostic summaries, and treatment recommendations.
According to the WHO, the handbook is primarily intended for national STI program managers and policymakers, but also serves healthcare providers, laboratory professionals, and technical organizations involved in STI prevention and control. The release comes as STIs remain a significant public health concern worldwide, often exacerbating the challenges faced by individuals living with HIV.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that STIs can increase the risk of HIV transmission, often due to sores or small tears in the skin. The NIH also highlights that safer sex practices, such as consistent condom use, are crucial for preventing both STIs and HIV. HIV.gov emphasizes that for individuals living with HIV, other STIs can be more demanding to treat, underscoring the importance of regular STI testing as part of comprehensive HIV care.
The WHO guidelines address the delivery of health services for STI prevention and care, aiming to reduce the prevalence of gonorrhoea and syphilis, as stated in their global health sector strategies for HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs. The handbook also includes guidance on contact tracing, with definitions for key terms established in a WHO guideline issued in January 2025.
A voluntary recall of specific lots of Bicillin L-A, a penicillin product used in STI treatment, was issued by King Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Pfizer, on July 10, 2025, prompting updates from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Details and priority actions for health departments and healthcare providers are available on the FDA’s website.
