Health Professional Resources

Healthcare agencies follow this procedure for all reportable diseases.

STI Resources

Rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia in Peoria County are twice the state and national values. They are also highest in zip codes 61603, 61604, and 61605. See other key points in infographic or view all STI Reports and report all STI's.

Treatment Guidelines with Risk Assessment & Screening Recommendations

As is stated in the CDC’s recently updated STI Treatment Recommendations, “Primary prevention of STIs includes assessment of behavioral risk and biologic risk. As part of the clinical encounter, health care providers should routinely obtain sexual histories from their patients and address risk reduction. Effective interviewing and counseling skills, characterized by respect, compassion, and a nonjudgmental attitude toward all patients, are essential to obtaining a thorough sexual history and delivering effective prevention messages. The “Five P’s” approach to obtaining a sexual history is one strategy for eliciting information about the key areas of interest  A table outlining screening recommendations by disease, gender, and sexual orientation can be viewed here. See the quick reference to updated treatment guidelines for gonorrhea and chlamydia as an excerpt of the CDC's MMWR 7-23-21.

Extra-genital Testing

Many patients do not realize they may have gonorrhea and/or chlamydia infections in the throat or rectum. Screening should take place at all sites of exposure as part of routine care. Many clients prefer to self-collect rectal swabs and some even prefer to self collect throat swabs. See instructions on how clients can self-collect extra-genital swabs for throat and for rectum. These instructions can be posted in restrooms or other areas used for self-collection of swabs.

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)

The Illinois Sexually Transmissible Disease Control Act allows health care professionals in Illinois including licensed physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice nurses the option of providing antibiotic treatment for the sex partners who may have been exposed to individuals infected with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea within the previous 60 days, without a physical examination of the partner(s). The EPT law protects these health care professionals from civil and professional liability, except for willful and wanton misconduct. EPT plays an important role in minimizing the spread of STD infections, re- infections, and complications, especially during these times when there is an increase of STI rates. See the IDPH webpage for EPT information.