Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

Clinical Pathways promote evidence based, safe, and high-value care for patients by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members. 

Clinical Pathways:

• STI – Screening/Testing Algorithm 
• STI – Treatment Algorithm
• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway)

Additional tools associated with this Clinical Pathway:

• STI Screening Tool 
• Confidentiality Tips

For providers with Children's Mercy privileges:

• Patient education in the Cerner depart will enter the Patient Portal OR you can access through link below. Recommend printing instead for patient confidentiality.
  • Healthy Sexual Behaviors 
  • Telling your partner you have an STD
  • STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

For providers without Children's Mercy privileges:

• Healthy Sexual Behaviors
• Telling your partner you have an STD
• STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria:

• Inclusion:
  • Patients with signs and symptoms of STI
    • Female:
      • Vaginal pruritus 
      • Vaginal discharge
      • Intermenstrual bleeding or menorrhagia
      • Dysuria
      • Urinary urgency or frequency
      • Genital lesions
      • Abdominal or pelvic pain with no alternate diagnosis
      • Cervical motion tenderness
    • Male:
      • Urethral discharge
      • Unilateral testicular pain or swelling
      • Dysuria
      • Urinary urgency or frequency
      • Painful ejaculation
      • Genital lesions
  • Patients with risk factors for STI:
    • History of sexual activity
    • Sexual assault
    • Known or recent STI exposure
    • Concern for pregnancy
    • Concern for drug or alcohol use
  • Patient request testing for STI
• Exclusion:
  • Treatments of the following diagnoses are excluded from this guideline:
    • Pelvic inflammatory disease
    • Epididymitis, orchitis, or proctitis
    • Immunocompromised patients
    • Hepatitis
    • Alternative treatments are not included in this guideline
      • Please refer to the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines

Committee members involved in the development:

• Diane Petrie | Infectious Disease | Committee Chair
• Amanda Nedved, MD | Urgent Care | Committee Member
• Neena Kanwar, PhD | Clinical Pathology | Committee Member
• Abbey Masonbrink, MD | Hospital Medicine | Committee Member
• Gladesia Tolbert, NP | General Pediatrics - TEEN Clinic | Committee Member
• Alaina Burns, PhD | Pharmacy | Committee Member
• Rangaraj Selvarangan, PhD | Committee Member
• Melissa A Smith, NP | Emergency Medicine | Committee Member
• Katie Stangler, NP | Emergency Medicine | Committee Member
• Debbie Jaklevic, APRN | Adolescent Medicine | Committee Member

Patient/Family Committee Member:

• Teen Advisory Board | Committee Member

EBP Committee Members:

• Kathleen Berg, MD, FAAP | Hospitalist, Evidence Based Practice
• Andrea Melanson, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice

Publication dates:

• Finalized date: 12/2022
• Next expected revision date: 12/2025

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu. 

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.