Sexual health
Sexually transmissible infections, HIV prevention, contact tracing and sexual history taking. Syphilis in Australia is a current public health priority.
High-yield points
Chlamydia is the most commonly notified STI; first line is doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days (azithromycin in pregnancy).
Gonorrhoea: ceftriaxone 500 mg IM plus azithromycin 1 g orally; take a culture first for resistance testing.
Syphilis: benzathine benzylpenicillin 2.4 million units IM; test all pregnant women and people at risk.
HIV PrEP and PEP: PEP must start within 72 hours; PrEP is PBS-subsidised for people at risk.
Partner notification (contact tracing) is part of management; anonymous tools like 'Let Them Know' help.
Take a non-judgemental sexual history: partners, practices, protection, past STIs and pregnancy intention.
STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV are notifiable.
India vs Australia
Where the answer the AMC marks correct differs from what’s usually taught in Indian MBBS.
| Aspect | India (MBBS)What you learn in MBBS | Australia (AMC)What the exam marks as correct |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis and treatment | Syndromic management with pre-packed kits is common. | Test first (NAAT), treat per Australian STI Management Guidelines. Chlamydia: doxycycline 7 days. Gonorrhoea: ceftriaxone IM plus azithromycin. |
| Syphilis | Endemic, tested at antenatal and STI clinics. | Ongoing outbreak among young First Nations people in northern and central Australia since 2011, with congenital cases. Low testing threshold. |
| Screening and contacts | Testing mostly when symptomatic. | Offer asymptomatic testing to sexually active young people. Partner notification (contact tracing) is part of management. |
| Access | Government STI clinics. | Free public sexual health clinics, no Medicare card needed. PrEP is PBS-subsidised. |
Diagnosis and treatment
India (MBBS)
Syndromic management with pre-packed kits is common.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Test first (NAAT), treat per Australian STI Management Guidelines. Chlamydia: doxycycline 7 days. Gonorrhoea: ceftriaxone IM plus azithromycin.
Syphilis
India (MBBS)
Endemic, tested at antenatal and STI clinics.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Ongoing outbreak among young First Nations people in northern and central Australia since 2011, with congenital cases. Low testing threshold.
Screening and contacts
India (MBBS)
Testing mostly when symptomatic.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Offer asymptomatic testing to sexually active young people. Partner notification (contact tracing) is part of management.
Access
India (MBBS)
Government STI clinics.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Free public sexual health clinics, no Medicare card needed. PrEP is PBS-subsidised.
The Australian context
An ongoing infectious syphilis outbreak has affected young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in northern and central Australia since 2011, with cases of congenital syphilis, so a low threshold for testing is expected. Management follows the Australian STI Management Guidelines (ASHM). Sexual health clinics are free and do not need a Medicare card.