Point-of-care testing to strengthen sexually transmitted infection case management in resource-constrained settings

The WHO estimated in 2020 that 374 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur globally each year.(1) The highest incidence is observed in low-resource settings, where syndromic management is the standard of care. Introduced by WHO in 1984, syndromic management is a clinical approach that uses algorithms to guide empirical antimicrobial treatment based on signs and symptoms—such as vaginal discharge and urethral discharge—without diagnostic testing. Availability and implementation of rapid diagnostic tests for STIs will improve quality of care, reduce overtreatment and missed infections and mitigate against antimicrobial resistance.(2) This overview covers advances towards implementation of STI diagnostics in low-resource settings, as presented at a symposium co-organised by WHO and the Gates Foundation at the STI & HIV World Congress in Montreal, Canada (29 July 2025).