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 NCC News
The National Chlamydia Coalition Newsletter
Issue 79: February 29, 2016
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Dear Colleague,
Welcome to NCC News. This online newsletter is designed to keep you up-to-date on the NCC and share news, research, and resources related to chlamydia, STDs, and sexual health. Feel free to share this with your colleagues who also may find it of use.
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NCC Adds 2014 HEDIS Data to Website
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The National Chlamydia Coalition has added 2014 HEDIS data to its  Quality Measures & Screening Recommendations webpage. Screening data is presented for commercial HMOs, commercial PPOs, and Medicaid HMOs. In 2014, Medicaid HMOs had the highest screening rates with 51.2% of women aged 16-20 and 60.1% of women aged 21-24 years being screened for chlamydia. Commercial PPOs had the lowest screening rates with only 38.3% of women aged 16-20 and 46.7% of women aged 21-24 years being screened for chlamydia. HEDIS data at the national and state level is also available for 2000-2014. The data shows that in 2014, half of sexually active women aged 16-25 years enrolled in health plans were screened for chlamydia. This is a significant increase from only 25.4% in 2000. Similar increases in screening rates are reported by state. Although demonstrating that providers are screening more of their female patients for chlamydia, half of eligible young women are still not being screened.
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Antibiotics May Increase Susceptibility to Sexually Transmitted Infections
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A new study found that the loss of bacterial diversity that occurs when taking an antibiotic can increase susceptibility to viral STIs. Researchers treated mice with antibiotics for four weeks and then exposed them to herpes simplex virus type 2  (HSV-2). A control group received a placebo. The antibiotics depleted the mice's vaginal microbiota and created a larger innate immune response that prevented the secretion of antiviral cytokines in the vaginal tissues. As a result, the mice developed HSV-2 infections much more quickly and of greater severity than the control group. The researchers concluded that the depletion of the native vaginal bacteria lowered the mice's immune response to the virus. Further, they were unable to identify a single bacterial species responsible for the antiviral protection, but rather it was the overall balance in bacteria that accounted for the protective effects.
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Upcoming STD Prevention Science Series Webinar
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association will host a webinar on Thursday, March 10th from 1:00 - 2:00 pm (ET). STDs, the Genital Microbiome and HIV Transmission: What is Happening Down There? is the latest in the STD Prevention Science Series. Dr. Rupert Kaul will discuss how the risk of sexual HIV transmission is dependent on our immune system and microbes (HIV, other STIs, and the larger microbiome) at the mucosal surfaces of the genital tract and gut. He will also highlight some challenges of translating these findings into new HIV prevention strategies. Participants join the webinar by clicking here at 1:00 pm (ET) on March 10th and calling 800-619-7490.
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CDC Releases Updated Technology-Based Partners Services Toolkit
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A new resource, Introducing Technology into Partner Services: A Toolkit for Programs, was released by CDC recently. The toolkit outlines best practices and experiences from organizations who are integrating technology into their partner services activities. Technology, including the internet, mobile devices, email, instant messaging, and social media and networking sites, can be a powerful component of a program's array of partner services.
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2016 STD Prevention Conference Now Accepting Abstracts
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Abstracts are being accepted for the 2016 STD Prevention Conference. The Conference theme of Transcending Barriers. Creating Opportunities., offers you the perfect opportunity to share your work in the areas of STD prevention research, program, policy, diagnosis, and treatment.
Abstract submissions are peer-reviewed for scientific content, logical presentation, timeliness, and current interest of the topic to the scientific community. Abstracts must be submitted no later than Monday, April 25, 2016 at 11:59pm PST. Instructions for submitting an abstract and a new resource to help guide you through the development process are available at the 2016 STD Prevention Conference website. The conference will be held September 20 - 23 in Atlanta.
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