Sexually transmitted infections among HIV infected and HIV uninfected high-risk youth in the REACH study

Overview: This review presents the findings of published research in the Re aching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health (REACH) Project on sexu ally transmitted infections (STIs) within the context of the project's scie ntific agenda. Methods employed in the study for specimen collection, manag ement, and laboratory analysis are presented. This review presents publishe d analyses of cross-sectional data; longitudinal analyses are underway. In addition, baseline prevalence data on selected STIs and sexual risk profile s of the subjects in REACH are presented. High STI rates were evident in bo th human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and uninfected youth of both genders regardless of sexual orientation. High infection rates at baseline suggest that prevention-oriented programs for risk reduction among adolesc ents should focus on both HIV infected and at-risk, uninfected youth. (C) S ociety for Adolescent Medicine, 2001.