Challenging STIs in remote Central Australia

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are endemic in remote Central Australia in Aboriginal communities, but usually don’t prompt individuals to seek testing or treatment. Untreated, a proportion of such infections result in ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, infertility and enhanced transmission of HIV. The majority of STIs in Central Australia can be diagnosed with current nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) technologies and treated with single-dose antibiotic treatment. Successful long-term STI control has been achieved in some areas of remote Central Australia by increasing access to testing and treatment for STIs as part of a comprehensive program. Successful control of gonorrhoea also depends on adequate antimicrobial surveillance, which is particularly difficult to achieve in remote areas of Australia.