Accurate and timely reporting of STIs is integral to public
health efforts in assessing morbidity trends, allocating limited
resources, and assisting local health authorities with partner
notification and treatment. STI and HIV/AIDS cases should
be reported in accordance with state and local statutory
requirements. Syphilis (including congenital syphilis),
gonorrhea, chlamydia, chancroid, and HIV are reportable
diseases in every state. Because the requirements for reporting
other STIs differ by state, clinicians should be familiar with the
reporting requirements applicable within their jurisdictions.
Reporting can be provider based, laboratory based, or
both. Clinicians who are unsure of state and local reporting
requirements should seek advice from state or local health
department STI programs. STI and HIV reports are kept
confidential. In most jurisdictions, such reports are protected
Recommendations and Reports
US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR / July 23, 2021 / Vol. 70 / No. 4 11
by statute or regulation. Before conducting a follow-up
of a person with a positive STI test result, public health
professionals should consult the patient’s health care provider,
if possible, to inform them of the purpose of the public health
visit, verify the diagnosis, determine the treatments received,
and ascertain the best approaches to patient follow-up.