CDC | Spotlight on Sexually Transmitted
Infections & Prevention Georgia
The most recent CDC data suggest that sexually transmitted infection
rates have continued to rise.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can lead to long-term health consequences like
infertility, increased risk of HIV transmission, and, with syphilis, serious illness and even death
in infants. CDC continues to support US jurisdictions like Georgia (GA) as we work together
to turn the tide on STIs.
Syphilis & congenital syphilis rates are rising in the US and Georgia
Primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis are Congenital syphilis (CS) occurs when
the most infectious stages of syphilis and syphilis is passed to a baby during
represent new infections. From 2017 to pregnancy. From 2017 to 2021, CS rates rose
2021, P&S syphilis rates rose 72% in the US 219% in the US and rose 321% in Georgia.
and rose 22% in Georgia.
Chlamydia & gonorrhea are the most common bacterial STIs in Georgia
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are often
asymptomatic. Preventing the spread of
these STIs relies on screening to detect
infections and starting treatment early.
CDC supports states’ STI prevention and treatment efforts by:
Providing on- Promoting Turning
Monitoring
the-ground treatment best data
STI trends
support practices into action
CDC | Spotlight on Sexually Transmitted Infections & Prevention
CDC provided $9,512,811 to Georgia to prevent & control STIs in 2022
Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health
Departments (STD-PCHD) provides all states and 9 cities and
$3,435,711
territories with 5-year funding to prevent and control STIs. In 2022,
total STD-PCHD funding was $95.5 million.1
The Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) Workforce
Development Funding was a $200 million per year investment to
$5,277,100
support 21st century outbreak response via the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021.
The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US (EHE) Initiative provided
$800,000 $13,882,054 in 2022 to eligible jurisdictions to prevent new HIV
infections and scale up HIV prevention services in STD clinics.2
Experienced CDC field staff are an asset to programs they are directly
embedded in, often filling leadership roles and providing expertise that may
be challenging to sustain at the state and local level. Three of the 76 CDC
STI prevention field staff positioned throughout the US are stationed in
Georgia health departments.
Prevention-focused policies can help reduce STI rates
Prenatal Syphilis Screening is legally required during the first visit and third
trimester in Georgia. CDC recommends all pregnant women should be
screened for syphilis at the first prenatal visit, and at 28 weeks and delivery if
the mother lives in a community with high syphilis rates or is at risk for syphilis.
Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) provides patients’ sex partners with STI
treatment without a physical exam. EPT is authorized in Georgia.
For more information, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/std
This project was developed by the Research & Evaluation Group at Public Health Management Corporation in August 2023
and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (CDC-RFA-OT18-1802: Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services
Through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation's Health) totaling $300,000 with 100 percent funded by
CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an
endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
