Sarah Mobius, MPH¹, Nancy Willard, BA², Maria Villarroel, MA³, Jonathan Ellen, MD², and Susan M. Rogers, PhD³. (1) Health and Behavior Measurement Program, RTI International, 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 740, Washington, DC 20036, (2) Adolescent Health Research Group, Johns Hopkins University, 2700 Lighthouse Point East, Suite 210, Baltimore, MD 21224, (3) Health and Behavior Measurement Program, Research Triangle Institute, 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 740, Washington, DC 20036, 202-728-2470, mvillarroel@rti.org

Background: Previous studies demonstrate a high prevalence of STIs among emergency department patients, but few have assessed the effectiveness of patient and partner notification and treatment services for asymptomatic patients who receive STI screening in the ED.

Objectives: To screen ED patients and offer follow-up and treatment of subjects who test positive for gonorrhoea and/or chlamydia and their partners, and to identify characteristics associated with successful patient and partner follow-up.

Methods: In an ongoing GC/Ct transmission study, ED patients with positive screening tests are contacted by disease intervention specialists (DIS); partner notification services are also provided. Behavioural and demographic characteristics of patients and partners are assessed.

Results: To date, 264 (11.1%) screened patients tested positive for GC and/or Ct by nucleic acid amplification testing; 77 (29.2%) were treated in the ED or by another provider. Of 187 patients eligible for follow-up, 118 (63.1%) were notified by DIS and received treatment. 134 partners were named and 60 (44.8%) partners were treated. In bivariate analyses of index patient characteristics, successful follow-up was associated with no previous infection, no recent antibiotics use, and fewer partners in the past two years. Index patient characteristics associated with successful follow-up of partners included female gender, married, 0 to 1 partners in the past 3 months, and no recent condom use.

Conclusions: Provision of patient and partner notification services within an ED-based STI screening program can be an effective means of managing asymptomatic GC and Ct; demographic and behavioural characteristics may influence success of these services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Discuss behavioral characteristics that predict whether an index and his/her partner will be successfully contacted and treated after being tested in an urban ED setting.
• Analyze DIS strategies focused on contacting and treating STI patients and partners screened in an ED setting.
• Describe use of follow up techniques of index cases screened in an STI population.

Keywords: STD Prevention, Reproductive Health

Related Web page: www.rti.org/page.cfm?objectid=DAD49797-27FF-48B8-996875EA74A5BDAA

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.