Special Report: New Frontiers in STI Treatment

EP: 1.Special Report: Advances in STI Screening and Treatments

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EP: 2.Special Report: New Frontiers in STI Treatment

EP: 3.Special Report: STI Diagnostic Innovations and At-Home Testing

EP: 4.Special Report: Challenges and Workflow Integration in STI Care

EP: 5.Special Report: Impact of Screening on Congenital Conditions

EP: 6.Special Report: Education and Collaboration in STI Management

EP: 7.Special Report: Future Directions for STI Diagnosis and Treatment

In part 2 of this 7-part Special Report, the panel turned to treatment advances, focusing on the US Food and Drug Administration FDA’s approval of gepotidacin (Blujepa), an oral agent for uncomplicated UTIs in patients aged 12 and older. Moderator Kylee Johnson, MS, ARNP, noted the potential impact for women’s health—particularly among adolescent and adult populations. She emphasized that oral therapies tend to increase acceptance compared with injectable regimens, which often present adherence challenges despite patient awareness of the consequences of untreated infection.

Brooke Redmond, MD, highlighted the relevance for young patients and their families, noting that oral options are typically better received by both adolescents and caregivers. Johnson further underscored how an oral treatment could enhance access in rural and underserved areas, where distance and logistical barriers can delay care. From a public health perspective, she said, faster treatment initiation and easier partner therapy represent major wins in reducing transmission.

Both panelists acknowledged concerns about patient adherence with oral regimens, which require trust that the full course is completed. They agreed that patient counseling will remain central to maximizing efficacy and minimizing resistance. Ultimately, they hope gepotidacin will be a significant innovation that can streamline care, bolster acceptance, and potentially improve treatment rates across diverse patient populations.

Our Experts:

• Kylee Johnson, MS, APRN, is a women’s health nurse practitioner at Rocky Mountain Women's Clinic.
• Brooke Redmond, MD, is an attending neonatal critical care physician at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. She is the creator and director of the 24/7 BABY program.
• Denise Heaney, PhD, is a senior scientific affairs manager in Diagnostics Information Solutions at Roche Diagnostics Corporation in Indianapolis.

Redmond and Johnson have no relevant disclosures to report. Relevant disclosures for Heaney include Roche.

References:

1. Hufstetler K, Llata E, Miele K, Quilter LAS. Clinical Updates in Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2024. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2024;33(6):827-837. doi:10.1089/jwh.2024.0367

2. World Health Organization. Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections. Published 2025. Accessed September 30, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK616637/