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LB.2 Expedited Partner Therapy: Do Partners Get It? Findings From Partner Follow-up Surveys in New York City STD Clinics

Wednesday, March 14, 2012: 4:10 PM
Regency
Meighan Rogers, MPH1, Tiffani Mulder, MPH2, Mansi Mehta, MPH1, Mayra Ortiz1, Susan Blank, MD, MPH3, Kelly Morrison Opdyke, MPH4, Melissa Kyriakos Nelson, MSc4 and Julia Schillinger, MD, MSc5, 1Bureau of STD Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, 2Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Comprehensive Cancer Control Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 3Bureau of STD Control and Prevention, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, 4Cicatelli Associates Inc, New York, NY, 5US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC Division of STD Prevention, NYC DOHMH Bureau of STD,The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;, Long Island CIty, NY

     

Background: Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is the clinical practice of treating partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia (Ct) (without examining the partners) by providing the patient with medication/prescription to deliver to partner(s). At NYC STD clinics, heterosexual patients with laboratory confirmed Ct, who do not have syphilis or gonorrhea, are eligible for up to three doses of extra medication for partners. EPT is effective at reducing Ct reinfection, and patients report high rates of partner adherence. Limited data exist examining partners’ EPT-related behavior.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of partners who report receiving EPT from index patients, taking EPT, and following-up with a doctor.

Methods: From May 2011 through December 2011, we interviewed patients receiving EPT at select STD clinics to elicit partner information.  Three attempts were made to reach partners, beginning five days after EPT was dispensed to index patients.  Partners reached were asked about EPT delivery, acceptance, and follow-up, and were given STD education and prevention information. 

Results: Of 116 locatable partners, 38.8% (45/116; 32/81 males, 13/35 females) were reached.  Of those, 68.9% (22/32 males, 9/13 females) reported receiving EPT, and 94% (21/22 males, 8/9 females) of those that received EPT took the medication. Of those taking EPT, 20.7% (3/21 males, 3/8 females) reported visiting a doctor for further STD examination. Females were not significantly more likely to receive EPT (p=0.52) or take EPT (p=0.50) than males, although sample sizes were small.

Conclusions: A majority of partners received EPT and almost all took it.  While most partners reached were male, males and females were equally likely to receive and take EPT. 

Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: EPT is a successful partner treatment strategy. Eligible patients should be encouraged to take EPT to partners. Staff should emphasize the importance of seeking medical care in addition to EPT.

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