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Background: Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most frequently reported notifiable diseases in the United States. Repeat infections are common, and in women increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. Despite CDC recommendations to retest three months following treatment, retesting rates are low. We developed and evaluated an “STD tracker” reminder tool to increase retesting rates.
Methods: A database (“STD tracker”) was created that included all non-pregnant women with a positive chlamydia or gonorrhea test in our busy university-based gynecology clinic. This database was accessed by nursing staff to coordinate follow-up visits for repeat testing. For those who missed the 3 month retesting appointment, two attempts were made to contact patients to reschedule. A historical control study was performed by electronic chart review to determine retesting rates prior to and following implementation of the STD tracker.
Results: The STD Tracker was instituted in October 2014. From September 2012 to September 2014, repeat testing rates of women within three months of a diagnosis of chlamydia or gonorrhea was 34% (181/525). Following implementation of the STD tracker (October 2014-September 2015), the rate of repeat STD testing within three months was 43% (104/243, p<0.05). At 6 months, the rate of repeat testing remained higher in the group of women following, compared to prior to, implementation of the STD tracker (57% versus 47%, p<0.01). Reinfection rates for chlamydia or gonorrhea at 3 months was 17% (16% prior and 19% following the STD tracker).
Conclusions: A simple STD tracking system designed as a reminder for clinicians resulted in a 26.5% increase in repeat testing of women at three months following chlamydia or gonorrhea. An STD tracker reminder tool is an effective strategy that can be easily adopted in other clinics to increase retesting rates, and may decrease complications related to repeat infections with chlamydia or gonorrhea.