This ET system included an effective patient routing process that provided an efficient way to increase access to STD testing among persons at lower risk, at a reduced cost per patient, while maintaining high treatment coverage.

Placing DIS within community HIV clinics improved partner services. STD and/or HIV programs should consider this method to improve partner notification.

No abstract

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) is the practice of providing an extra dose or prescription of antibiotic to patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhoea to deliver to their sexual partner(s). Obstetrical providers who delivered more than 20 infants in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, during the year 2008 were surveyed by telephone regarding their use of EPT. A total of 142 eligible respondents completed the survey, representing 34% (142/421) of the delivering providers, 67 (47%) of whom reported the use of EPT in their clinics. Having received information about EPT was significantly associated with its use (67% versus 41%) (P = 0.008). The most common reasons for not using EPT included the inability to obtain allergy history in partners (24%) and concern for liability (11%). Additional education regarding the use of EPT may increase the use of this personal and public health tool among some obstetrics providers in Maricopa County; however, concerns for liability may limit broad utilization.

Though the yield of jail intake screening was good, poor data quality, particularly cost data, precluded accurate cost/yield comparisons at other venues. Few cases of infectious syphilis were identified through outreach screening at any venue. Health departments should routinely collect all cost and testing data for screening efforts so that their yield can be evaluated.