Overview
Framing the STI Encounter
An STI encounter is a decision about the organism, exposed anatomic sites, disease stage, host factors, and public health follow up—not simply a choice of antibiotic.
An STI encounter is a decision about the organism, exposed anatomic sites, disease stage, host factors, and public-health follow-up—not simply a choice of antibiotic. A person may have infection at more than one site, minimal symptoms, or a condition such as syphilis whose treatment changes completely when pregnancy or neurologic involvement is present. Identify urgent features first, test every relevant site, and then select therapy using current Canadian guidance. Safe care continues after the prescription: verify administration, arrange test of cure or serologic follow-up when indicated, prevent reinfection through partner management, and complete required reporting. The central pattern is straightforward: gonorrhea treatment is resistance-driven, chlamydia treatment is site- and pregnancy-sensitive, and syphilis treatment is stage- and compartment-dependent.