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Background: Standard management of syphilis cases includes examination and treatment for all sex partners to a diagnosed case, when exposures fall within the prescribed period.
Objectives: Explore steps taken and resources needed to force compliance with high risk sex partner, who refuses medical follow-up
Methods: 31 year old male diagnosed with early latent syphilis in December, 2010. During sex partner interview, he identified sexual exposure with a female approximately September 18, 2010. Based on his symptom history, combined with exposure date, it was determined that this female was a priority for medical follow-up.
Results: After her identification by the original patient in December, the Erie County Department of Health (ECDH) Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) made 15 separate attempts to insure medical follow-up. These efforts included telephone calls, letters, a certified letter, and a home visit. Patient promised compliance and was a “no-show,” or completely avoided personal interaction with staff. On March 3, 2011, DIS initiated steps to force compliance by enlisting the resources of ECDH legal counsel.
Conclusions: Because of diligent due process, and increasingly more intense efforts, culminating in the use of the Pennsylvania’s Communicable Disease Law, this client was subpoenaed to appear in Erie County Court on March 31.She was subsequently court-ordered to attend an ECDH clinic for examination on or before April 6. Client did attend this clinic, and was successfully examined and prophylactically treated for possible syphilis.
Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: Existing legal resources, and the statutory legal basis for communicable disease control, can be used to force medical compliance in STD case management situations which are of high public health significance, and when routine efforts fail. Objectives: Methods: Results: Conclusions: Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: