Biology of sexually transmitted diseases.

The clinical concept of sexually transmitted diseases describes a common mode of transmission of pathogens spanning the full spectrum of medical microbiology. These organisms have few common biologic characteristics aside from their ability to colonize or invade particular anatomic sites. New information on the biology of sexually transmitted pathogens has led to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Understanding that patients with sexually transmitted pathogens may be asymptomatic or may be simultaneously infected with multiple organisms has important implications for epidemiologic control of these diseases.