Doxycycline prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infections: a guide for data collection in the EU/EEA
This guide provides a harmonised, non-prescriptive framework for data collection on doxycycline prophylaxis for the prevention of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA). It is intended to support monitoring, surveillance, research and evaluation activities in settings where doxycycline prophylaxis (primarily doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, doxy-PEP) is used, whether by prescription or informally.
Purpose and scope
The guide does not promote or discourage the provision of doxycycline prophylaxis, nor does it replace national clinical guidelines, regulatory decisions or antimicrobial-stewardship policies. Instead, it aims to improve the comparability, interpretability and quality of data generated across countries and settings, thereby strengthening the evidence base available for public-health decision-making at the national and EU/EEA level. ECDC public health considerations (January 2026) recommend individual-level, shared decision-making for those at highest risk of contracting an STI, particularly for syphilis prevention among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and transgender women, and emphasise the need for ongoing monitoring of STI trends, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antimicrobial consumption and behavioural indicators.
Doxycycline prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infections: a guide for data collection in the EU/EEA
English (1.58 MB - PDF)
