This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Presumptive gonorrhea treatment may hinder partner notification, care
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
While presumptive treatment for gonorrhea may expedite care for patients with likely infection, this approach may prevent patients from seeking test results and hinder partner notification and treatment, according to data presented at the CDC’s Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service conference in Atlanta.
Researchers evaluated electronic medical records (EMRs) of gonorrhea-positive patients whose cases were documented at the Maricopa County, Arizona, STD clinic between July 2013 and June 2014. The researchers defined presumptive treatment as a regimen initiated at the time of testing; all other treatment was categorized as standard care. Patients were categorized as having received test results if they called the clinic after testing or returned for further treatment. A generalized estimating equation was used to examine the correlations between treatment type and receipt of results, and to account for repeat infections.
The investigators found that 62% of the infections (n = 1,466) were treated presumptively. More men than women (67% vs. 47%; P < .01) underwent this therapy. Of the 555 patients who received standard care, 91% were later treated, with a median time-to-treatment of 6 days. Presumptively treated patients were less likely to receive test results than those receiving standard care (41% vs. 91%; prevalence ratio = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.42-0.50).
Virginia Bowen
“People treated for gonorrhea before their test results were available were half as likely to learn that their test was positive,” researcher Virginia Bowen, PhD, MHS, of the CDC, told Infectious Disease News. “Receiving positive test results is important, because it empowers patients to tell their sex partners about the need for testing and treatment.
“Everyone who tests positive for gonorrhea needs to learn their test results — for their own benefit and the benefit of their partners.” – by Jen Byrne
Reference:
Bowen V, et al. Is Presumptive Treatment Presumptuous? The Association between Presumptive Treatment for Gonorrhea and Patients’ Receipt of Test Results – Maricopa County, Arizona, 2013-2014. Presented at: Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service conference; April 20-23, 2015; Atlanta.
Disclosure: Bowen reports no relevant financial disclosures.