Status of cultured STDs in St. Lucia

ABSTRACT

This is a small study and by no means definitive. It raises a number of questions both medical and social. The most startling finding to us is the high GC rate in the under 13yr population. This raises the question of sexual abuse of minors and the reason for such abuse warrants further studying by the Medical and Social Services. The high percentage of "no isolates" in all groups begs the question of making chlamydia testing available. We think that such testing should be done for epidemiological reasons and for treatment. Until such testing is made available treatment of discharge in STD patients and neonatal conjunctivitis must cover both GC and chlamydia. Routine eyedrops when used at delivery should cover both organisms for the same reasons. The antibiotic resistance of Gonococcus sp. is not a major issue presently in St. Lucia, apart from the fact that it is evident that about 10-11 percent of GC is at least partially resistant to penicillin. Clinicians should bear this in mind when treating their patients. Added to this, the probable high chlamydia rate may influence clinicians to use appropriate regimens to treat patients (AU)