Sarasota has continued to see a surge in cases of sexually transmitted diseases, mirroring a nationwide trend. Gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis infections have been on the rise for five straight years in the US, according to a recently released report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that analyzed 2018 data. An SMH OB-GYN and an Infectious Disease specialist weigh in on the causes behind the local trend and what we can do to prevent STD infection.