HIV/STD Surveillance Reports

Philadelphia Department of Public Health (DPH) Disease Control Annual Reports

Philadelphia DPH STD Reports

Philadelphia DPH HIV/AIDS Reports (forthcoming)

CDC Chlamydia Prevalence Monitoring Project Annual Report (2007)
CDC Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP) Annual Report (2007)
CDC Syphilis Surveillance Report (2007)

General STD Management Guidelines

MMWR Recommendations for Partner Services Programs for HIV Infection, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia Infection (2008)
CDC Gonorrhea Treatment Update (2007)
CDC Treatment Guidelines (2010)
CDC Expedited Partner Therapy Report (2006)

Philadelphia Health Alerts and Advisories

Increase in Gonorrhea (August 2, 2010)
New Syphilis Screening Recommendations (February 24, 2010)
Syphilis on the Rise in Young Women (May 27, 2009)
Increase in Congenital Syphilis (December 2, 2008)
STD Awareness Month (April 15, 2008)
Syphilis in Women (June 20, 2007)
Updated CDC Treatment Guidelines for STDs (August 18, 2006)
Syphilis: Don't Miss It! (June 11, 2006)
Increase in Quinolone-Resistant Neisseira gonorrhoeae (December 8, 2005)
Rapidly Progressing Multi-Drug Resistant HIV Diagnosed in NYC (February 14, 2005)

STD Fact Sheets

Bacterial Vaginosis
Chlamydia
Genital Herpes
Genital HPV Infection
Gonorrhea
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis

Publications/Presentations

Click here to see Journal Articles and Presentations by STD Control Program Staff.

Surveillance Policies and Form(s)

The Philadelphia STD Control Program maintains systems to monitor the numbers of reportable STDs within the City of Philadelphia. The collected information allows the STD Control Program to target disease-control efforts to the communities most in need, as well as to recognize outbreaks or trends that are unusual or are different from what has occurred in the past. The STD Control Program also participates in National Surveillance programs, such as the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project, to assist in efforts to monitor national trends.

Philadelphia Reportable Diseases and Conditions
Notifiable Disease Case Report Form
STD Case Report Form
Privacy Rule - Disclosures for Public Health Activities
Selected Reporting Regulations
Additional Reporting Information

For additional information, please see: https://hip.phila.gov/xv/

Medical Consultation and Assistance

Clinicians can call the STD Control Program to obtain STD medical consultation. This can include the request of information from the STD Control Program's historic database of reportable STDs, which may help guide case management. Clinicians can call (215) 685-6737 weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Additionally, several additional services are available for physicians and clinicians throughout Philadelphia:

• Free serologic testing for syphilis for non-hospital-based practices
• Replacement Benzathene Penicillin LA (2.4Mu Tubex) for the treatment of syphilis in indigent patients without insurance
• Referral services to the DHC #1 STD Clinic for patients requiring a second opinion for STD Dx and Rx (including LP's, as needed)
• Resident rotation through the STD Clinic (6-week program) through special arrangement with the Medical Director
• Congenital syphilis treatment confirmation

Reporting and Contact Information

STD Reporting: 215-685-6737, 215-685-6798 (fax)
Syphilis Treatment Verification Reporting: 215-685-6737
Request for HIV/STD Partner Services: 215-685-6612
  Find your Partner Services Rep:  Partner Services Sites Assignments 2010
  Submit a request for Partner Services:  Partner Services Referral Documentation Form
STD Control Medical Director: 215-685-6617
STD Control Program Manager: 215-685-6618

Philadelphia Syphilis Advisory Committee

The Philadelphia Syphilis Advisory Committee (PSAC) was established in 2008 in response to a call for action by Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and providers serving Philadelphia residents disproportionately affected by an ongoing outbreak of syphilis in their communities.

Laboratory Services

STD Testing performed by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health is performed by the Philadelphia Public Health Laboratory. Tests for gonorrhea include gram Stain, modified Thayer-martin culture, and GenProbe Aptima amplified testing for gonorrhea. Testing for Chlamydia is done with the GenProbe Aptima amplified test for Chlamydia on both swab and urine specimens. For additional information, please call (215) 685-6737.

The Philadelphia STD Control Program also participates in the National Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project that tests approximately 25 specimens monthly to evaluate antibiotic resistance. This is necessary to assure that the gonorrhea organisms in our city are still sensitive to the drugs we use to treat infection.

Non-Occupational Post Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP) Workgroup - under construction