Advertisement
Review Article|Articles in Press

Approach to Managing Sex Partners of People with Sexually Transmitted Infections

Published:March 15, 2023DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2023.02.003

      Keywords

      To read this article in full you will need to make a payment

      Purchase one-time access:

      Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online access
      One-time access price info
      • For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
      • For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'

      Subscribers receive full online access to your subscription and archive of back issues up to and including 2002.

      Content published before 2002 is available via pay-per-view purchase only.

      Subscribe:

      Subscribe to Infectious Disease Clinics
      Already a print subscriber? Claim online access
      Already an online subscriber? Sign in
      Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect

      References

        • Parran T.
        Shadow on the land: syphilis.
        Reynal & Hitchcock, New York1937
        • Landry D.J.
        • Forrest J.D.
        Public health departments providing sexually transmitted disease services.
        Fam Plann Perspect. 1996; 28: 261-266
        • Golden M.R.
        • Hogben M.
        • Handsfield H.H.
        • et al.
        Partner notification for HIV and STD in the United States: low coverage for gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, and HIV.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2003; 30: 490-496
        • Armstrong H.
        • Fernando I.
        An audit of partner notification for syphilis and HIV.
        Int J STD AIDS. 2012; 23: 825-826
        • Low N.
        • Welch J.
        • Radcliffe K.
        Developing national outcome standards for the management of gonorrhoea and genital chlamydia in genitourinary medicine clinics.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2004; 80: 223-229
        • Trelle S.
        • Shang A.
        • Nartey L.
        • et al.
        Improved effectiveness of partner notification for patients with sexually transmitted infections: systematic review.
        BMJ. 2007; 334: 354
        • Workowski K.A.
        • Bachmann L.H.
        • Chan P.A.
        • et al.
        Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.
        MMWR Recomm Rep (Morb Mortal Wkly Rep). 2021; 70: 1-187
      1. Wayal S, Estcourt CS, Mercer CH, et al. Optimising partner notification outcomes for bacterial sexually transmitted infections: a deliberative process and consensus, United Kingdom, 2019, Euro Surveill, 2022;27(3):1-6.

        • Low N.
        • Broutet N.
        • Adu-Sarkodie Y.
        • et al.
        Global control of sexually transmitted infections.
        Lancet. 2006; 368: 2001-2016
        • Althaus C.L.
        • Turner K.M.
        • Mercer C.H.
        • et al.
        Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of traditional and new partner notification technologies for curable sexually transmitted infections: observational study, systematic reviews and mathematical modelling.
        Health Technol Assess. 2014; 18 (vii-viii): 1-100
        • Klausner J.D.
        • Hook E.W.
        Current diagnosis & treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. McGraw Hill Professional, New York, NY2007
        • Ferreira A.
        • Young T.
        • Mathews C.
        • et al.
        Strategies for partner notification for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
        Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013; 2013: Cd002843
        • Nelson L.E.
        • Morrison-Beedy D.
        • Kearney M.H.
        • et al.
        Sexual partner type taxonomy use among black adolescent mothers in the United States.
        Can J Hum Sex. 2011; 20: 1-10
        • Macaluso M.
        • Demand M.J.
        • Artz L.M.
        • et al.
        Partner type and condom use.
        Aids. 2000; 14: 537-546
        • Estcourt C.S.
        • Flowers P.
        • Cassell J.A.
        • et al.
        Going beyond 'regular and casual': development of a classification of sexual partner types to enhance partner notification for STIs.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2022; 98: 108-114
        • Yu Y.-Y.
        • Frasure-Williams J.A.
        • Dunne E.F.
        • et al.
        Chlamydia partner services for females in California family planning clinics.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2011; 38: 913-918
        • Mickiewicz T.
        • Al-Tayyib A.
        • Thrun M.
        • et al.
        Implementation and effectiveness of an expedited partner therapy program in an urban clinic.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2012; 39: 923-929
        • Hansman E.
        • Wynn A.
        • Moshashane N.
        • et al.
        Experiences and preferences with sexually transmitted infection care and partner notification in Gaborone, Botswana.
        Int J STD AIDS. 2021; 32: 1250-1256
        • McBride K.
        • Goldsworthy R.C.
        • Fortenberry J.D.
        Formative design and evaluation of patient-delivered partner therapy informational materials and packaging.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2009; 85: 150-155
        • Ostergaard L.
        • Anderson B.
        • Moller J.K.
        • et al.
        Managing partners of people diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis: a comparison of two partner testing methods.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2003; 79: 358-361
        • Mathews C.
        • Coetzee N.
        Partner notification.
        BMJ Clin Evid. 2009; 2009: 1-39
        • Andersen B.
        • Ostergaard L.
        • Moller J.K.
        • et al.
        Home sampling versus conventional contact tracing for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis infection in male partners of infected women: randomised study.
        BMJ. 1998; 316: 350-351
        • Pellowski J.
        • Mathews C.
        • Kalichman M.O.
        • et al.
        Advancing partner notification through electronic communication technology: a review of acceptability and utilization research.
        J Health Commun. 2016; 21: 629-637
        • Kachur R.
        • Hall W.
        • Coor A.
        • et al.
        The use of technology for sexually transmitted disease partner services in the United States: a structured review.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2018; 45: 707-712
        • Hopkins C.A.
        • Temple-Smith M.J.
        • Fairley C.K.
        • et al.
        Telling partners about chlamydia: how acceptable are the new technologies?.
        BMC Infect Dis. 2010; 10: 58
        • Bourne C.
        • Zablotska I.
        • Williamson A.
        • et al.
        Promotion and uptake of a new online partner notification and retesting reminder service for gay men.
        Sex Health. 2012; 9: 360-367
        • Rietmeijer C.A.
        • Westergaard B.
        • Mickiewicz T.A.
        • et al.
        Evaluation of an online partner notification program.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2011; 38: 359-364
        • Wilson T.E.
        • Hogben M.
        • Malka E.S.
        • et al.
        A randomized controlled trial for reducing risks for sexually transmitted infections through enhanced patient-based partner notification.
        Am J Public Health. 2009; 99: S104-S110
        • Moyo W.
        • Chirenje Z.M.
        • Mandel J.S.
        • et al.
        Impact of a single session of counseling on partner referral for sexually transmitted disease treatment, Harare, Zimbabwe.
        AIDS Behav. 2004; 6: 237-243
        • Faxelid E.
        • Tembo G.
        • Ndulo J.
        • et al.
        Individual counseling of patients with sexually transmitted diseases. A way to improve partner notification in a Zambian setting?.
        Sex Transm Dis. 1996; 23: 289-292
        • Katz B.P.
        • Danos C.S.
        • Quinn T.S.
        • et al.
        Efficiency and cost-effectiveness of field follow-up for patients with Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a sexually transmitted diseases clinic.
        Sex Transm Dis. 1988; 15: 11-16
        • Ellison G.
        • Moniez V.
        • Stein J.
        A randomized controlled trial of a standardised health message vs patient-centred counseling to improve STD partner notification.
        Ann Hum Biol. 2001; 30
        • Handsfield H.H.
        • Hogben M.
        • Schillinger J.A.
        • et al.
        Expedited partner therapy in the management of sexually transmitted diseases.
        US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA2006
        • Kissinger P.
        • Schmidt N.
        • Mohammed H.
        • et al.
        Patient-delivered partner treatment for Trichomonas vaginalis infection: a randomized controlled trial.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2006; 33: 445-450
        • Schwebke J.R.
        • Desmond R.A.
        A randomized controlled trial of partner notification methods for prevention of trichomoniasis in women.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2010; 37: 392-396
        • Global HIV WHO
        HaSTIP and Guidelines Review Committee, Guidelines for the management of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections. WHO Guidelines, Geneva2021
        • Association A.M.
        Code of Medical Ethics Opinion 8.9 Expedited Partner Therapy.
        (Available at:) (Accessed 2022)
        • Gynecologists ACoOa
        Expedited partner therapy. ACOG committee opinion No. 737.
        Obstet Gynecol, 2018
        • Burstein G.R.
        • Eliscu A.
        • Ford K.
        • et al.
        Expedited partner therapy for adolescents diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea: a position paper of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
        J Adolesc Health. 2009; 45: 303-309
        • Schillinger J.A.
        • Kissinger P.
        • Calvet H.
        • et al.
        Patient-delivered partner treatment with azithromycin to prevent repeated Chlamydia trachomatis infection among women: a randomized, controlled trial.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2003; 30: 49-56
        • Golden M.R.
        • Whittington W.L.
        • Handsfield H.H.
        • et al.
        Effect of expedited treatment of sex partners on recurrent or persistent gonorrhea or chlamydial infection.
        N Engl J Med. 2005; 352: 676-685
        • Kissinger P.
        • Mohammed H.
        • Richardson-Alston G.
        • et al.
        Patient-delivered partner treatment for male urethritis: a randomized, controlled trial.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2005; 41: 623-629
        • Nuwaha F.
        • Kambugu F.
        • Nsubuga P.S.J.
        • et al.
        Efficacy of patient-delivered partner medication in the treatment of sexual partners in Uganda.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2001; 28: 105-110
        • Cameron S.T.
        • Glasier A.
        • Scott G.
        • et al.
        Novel interventions to reduce re-infection in women with chlamydia: a randomized controlled trial.
        Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 888-895
        • Estcourt C.S.
        • Stirrup O.
        • Copas A.
        • et al.
        Accelerated partner therapy contact tracing for people with chlamydia (LUSTRUM): a crossover cluster-randomised controlled trial.
        Lancet Public Health. 2022; 7: e853-e865
        • Kerani R.P.
        • Fleming M.
        • DeYoung B.
        • et al.
        A randomized, controlled trial of inSPOT and patient-delivered partner therapy for gonorrhea and chlamydial infection among men who have sex with men.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2011; 38: 941-946
        • Mmeje O.
        • Wallett S.
        • Kolenic G.
        • et al.
        Impact of expedited partner therapy (EPT) implementation on chlamydia incidence in the USA.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2018; 94: 545-547
        • Gift T.L.
        • Kissinger P.
        • Mohammed H.
        • et al.
        The cost and cost-effectiveness of expedited partner therapy compared with standard partner referral for the treatment of chlamydia or gonorrhea.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2011; 38: 1067-1073
        • Borchardt L.N.
        • Pickett M.L.
        • Tan K.T.
        • et al.
        Expedited partner therapy: pharmacist refusal of legal prescriptions.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2018; 45: 350-353
        • McCool-Myers M.
        • Goedken P.
        • Henn M.C.
        • et al.
        Who is practicing expedited partner therapy and why? Insights from providers working in specialties with high volumes of sexually transmitted infections.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2021; 48: 474-480
        • Viscidi R.P.
        • Demma J.C.
        • Gu J.
        • et al.
        Comparison of sequencing of the por gene and typing of the opa gene for discrimination of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains from sexual contacts.
        J Clin Microbiol. 2000; 38: 4430-4438
        • Bilek N.
        • Martin I.M.
        • Bell G.
        • et al.
        Concordance between Neisseria gonorrhoeae genotypes recovered from known sexual contacts.
        J Clin Microbiol. 2007; 45: 3564-3567
        • Chen H.
        • Wu Z.
        • Chen R.
        • et al.
        Typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Opa and NG-MAST gene of 12 pairs of sexual contact gonorrhea patients in China.
        J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. 2008; 28: 472-475
        • Allan-Blitz L.-T.
        • Adamson P.C.
        • Klausner J.D.
        Resistance-guided therapy for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2022; 75: 1655-1660
        • Erbelding E.J.
        • Zenilman J.M.
        Toward better control of sexually transmitted diseases.
        N Engl J Med. 2005; 352: 720-721
        • McNulty A.
        • Teh M.F.
        • Freedman E.
        Patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydial infection: what would be missed?.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2008; 35: 834-836
        • Stekler J.
        • Bachmann L.
        • Brotman R.M.
        • et al.
        Concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in sex partners of patients with selected STIs: implications for patient-delivered partner therapy.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2005; 40: 787-793
        • Schillinger J.
        • Jamison K.
        • Slutsker J.
        • et al.
        P075 STI and HIV infections among MSM reporting exposure to gonorrhea or chlamydia: implications for expedited partner therapy.
        Conference Abstract. 2019; : 2019
        • Gamarel K.E.
        • Mouzoon R.
        • Rivas A.
        • et al.
        Healthcare providers and community perspectives on expedited partner therapy (EPT) for use with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2020; 96: 101-105
        • Braun H.M.
        • Taylor J.L.
        It’s time to expand chlamydia treatment for gay and bisexual men.
        Ann Fam Med. 2021; 19: 168-170
        • Fortenberry J.D.
        • Brizendine E.J.
        • Katz B.P.
        • et al.
        The role of self-efficacy and relationship quality in partner notification by adolescents with sexually transmitted infections.
        Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002; 156: 1133
        • Rosenthal S.L.
        • Baker J.G.
        • Biro F.M.
        • et al.
        Secondary prevention of STD transmission during adolescence: partner notification.
        Adolesc Pediatr Gynecol. 1995; 8: 183-187
        • Shamash Z.
        • Catallozzi M.
        • Dayan P.S.
        • et al.
        Preferences for expedited partner therapy among adolescents in an urban pediatric emergency department: a mixed-methods study.
        Pediatr Emerg Care. 2021; 37: e91-e96
        • Slutsker J.S.
        • Tsang L.B.
        • Schillinger J.A.
        Do prescriptions for expedited partner therapy for chlamydia get filled? Findings from a multi-jurisdictional evaluation, United States, 2017-2019.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2020; 47: 376-382
        • Blas M.M.
        • Canchihuaman F.A.
        • Alva I.E.
        • et al.
        Pregnancy outcomes in women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis: a population-based cohort study in Washington State.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2007; 83: 314-318
        • Mullick S.
        • Watson-Jones D.
        • Beksinska M.
        • et al.
        Sexually transmitted infections in pregnancy: prevalence, impact on pregnancy outcomes, and approach to treatment in developing countries.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2005; 81: 294-302
        • Thurman A.R.
        • Holden A.E.C.
        • Shain R.
        • et al.
        Partner notification of sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women.
        Int J STD AIDS. 2008; 19: 309-315
        • Offorjebe O.A.
        • Wynn A.
        • Moshashane N.
        • et al.
        Partner notification and treatment for sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana.
        Int J STD AIDS. 2017; 28: 1184-1189
        • Silverman J.G.
        • Decker M.R.
        • Reed E.
        • et al.
        Intimate partner violence victimization prior to and during pregnancy among women residing in 26 U.S. states: associations with maternal and neonatal health.
        Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006; 195: 140-148
        • Smith S.G.
        • Zhang X.
        • Basile K.C.
        • et al.
        The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2015 data brief - updated release.
        National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018
        • Rosenfeld E.A.
        • Marx J.
        • Terry M.A.
        • et al.
        Intimate partner violence, partner notification, and expedited partner therapy: a qualitative study.
        Int J STD AIDS. 2016; 27: 656-661
        • KISSINGER P.J.
        • NICCOLAI L.M.
        • MAGNUS M.
        • et al.
        Partner notification for HIV and syphilis: effects on sexual behaviors and relationship stability.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2003; 30: 75-82
        • Thurman A.R.
        • Shain R.N.
        • Holden A.E.C.
        • et al.
        Partner notification of sexually transmitted infections: a large cohort of Mexican American and African American women.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2008; 35: 136-140
        • Klabbers R.E.
        • Muwonge T.R.
        • Ayikobua E.
        • et al.
        Understanding the role of interpersonal violence in assisted partner notification for HIV: a mixed-methods study in refugee settlements in West Nile Uganda.
        J Glob Health. 2020; 10: 020440
        • Henderson R.H.
        Control of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States: a federal perspective.
        Br J Vener Dis. 1977; 53: 211
      2. Duty to Warn. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
        (Available at:) (Accessed 2022)
        • Cina M.
        • Baumann L.
        • Egli-Gany D.
        • et al.
        Mycoplasma genitalium incidence, persistence, concordance between partners and progression: systematic review and meta-analysis.
        Sex Transm Infect. 2019; 95: 328-335
        • Slifirski J.B.
        • Vodstrcil L.A.
        • Fairley C.K.
        • et al.
        Mycoplasma genitalium infection in adults reporting sexual contact with infected partners, Australia, 2008-2016.
        Emerg Infect Dis. 2017; 23: 1826-1833
        • Plummer E.L.
        • Vodstrcil L.A.
        • Danielewski J.A.
        • et al.
        Combined oral and topical antimicrobial therapy for male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis: acceptability, tolerability and impact on the genital microbiota of couples - A pilot study.
        PLoS One. 2018; 13: e0190199
        • Schwebke J.R.
        • Lensing S.Y.
        • Lee J.
        • et al.
        Treatment of male sexual partners of women with bacterial vaginosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
        Clin Infect Dis. 2021; 73: e672-e679