A pill for the partner via the chlamydia patient? Results from a mixed method study among sexual health care providers in the Netherlands

Nanhoe, Anita C.; Visser, Maartje; Omlo, Jurriaan J.; Watzeels, Anita; Broek, Ingrid V. van den; Götz, Hannelore M

doi:10.1186/s12879-018-3139-0

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Testing may bring about adverse psychological effects. A meta-analysis reported that undergoing testing or having a diagnosis of CT may cause a small-to-moderate number of people to experience some degree of harm (feelings of stigmatization, anxiety about future infertility, intimate partner violence), with most studies in women [ 4 , 68 , 69 ]. How patients weigh the potential benefits versus the harm of screening was found to be uncertain in this meta-analysis, yet risks to reproductive health (infertility, chronic pelvic pain) and transmission appear to be more important than the (often transient) psychosocial harm involved [ 4 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controversies and evidence on Chlamydia testing and treatment in asymptomatic women and men who have sex with men: a narrative review

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. CT is mainly asymptomatic. Test-and-treat strategies are widely implemented to prevent transmission and complications. Strategies are not without controversy in asymptomatic women and men who have sex with men (MSM). Concerns are emerging to test and treat asymptomatic persons for urogenital CT (‘Controversy 1’) and pharyngeal or rectal CT (‘Controversy 2’), whereby testing symptomatic persons is not under debate. Opposed views in CT treatment involve using azithromycin versus doxycycline (‘Controversy 3’). The objective of this review is to provide coverage of these public health and clinical controversies by reviewing the current scientific evidence. Methods A literature search was performed using PubMed for relevant publications between 2018 and September 2021, and iterative retrieval of additional relevant publications. Results Controversy 1. In women, the majority of asymptomatic CT are at the urogenital site, and detections mostly include viable CT. CT easily transmits to a partner and potentially also between the vaginal and rectal areas; the clinical impact of urogenital CT is established, although risks for adverse outcomes are uncertain. Wide-scale testing in asymptomatic women has not resulted in reduced prevalence. In MSM, evidence for the clinical impact of asymptomatic urogenital CT is lacking. Controversy 2. Rectal CT is common in women diagnosed with urogenital CT, but the clinical impact of asymptomatic rectal CT is uncertain. In MSM, rectal CT is common, and most CT infections are at the rectal site, yet the risk of longer term complications is unknown. In both sexes, pharyngeal CT is uncommon and has no documented clinical impact. Controversy 3. In the treatment of rectal CT, doxycycline has superior effectiveness to azithromycin. Evidence has also accumulated on the harms of test-and-treat strategies. Conclusions Current practices vary widely, from widescale test-and-treat approaches to more individual patient- and partner-level case management. Choosing which asymptomatic people to test at what anatomic site, and whether to test or not, requires an urgent (re-)definition of the goals of testing and treating asymptomatic persons. Treatment guidelines are shifting toward universal doxycycline use, and clinical practice now faces the challenge of implementation.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controversies and evidence on Chlamydia testing and treatment in asymptomatic women and men who have sex with men: a narrative review

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These concerns of the participants are in line with those of professionals interviewed within the PICC-UP study. 28,29…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These concerns of the participants are in line with those of professionals interviewed within the PICC-UP study. 28,29 Providing patients with medication and a homebased test-kit for partner(s) may be an acceptable form of PIPT at SHCs in the Netherlands. Some patients and partners doubted the reliability of the home-based test-kit, while they had done selfsampling for the Chlamydia test at the SHC.…”

Section: Findings In Context Of Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient initiated partner treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the Netherlands: views of patients with and partners notified for Chlamydia

2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Patient-initiated partner therapy (PIPT) for Chlamydia is not practiced in the Netherlands. We aimed to explore PIPT-willingness in patients infected with Chlamydia and persons notified for Chlamydia (partners) at sexual health clinics (SHCs) and general practitioners’ offices. We performed interviews among 20 heterosexual patients and 21 partners regarding real or hypothetical situations. The interviews were taped, transcribed verbatim and coded using ATLAS.ti7 software for qualitative research. Despite challenges in notifying partners in some cultural groups and some partner types, most patients and partners would cooperate with PIPT. Perceived barriers included unnecessary treatment, risking untreated other sexually transmitted infections and breaking the notification chain. Most patients and partners opted for home-based test-kits before treatment. Partners desired proper packaging of the test and the medication, along with an information insert, a supportive letter from the SHC, information on the internet and the possibility to contact a professional. Although PIPT may support partner notification (PN), many patients and partners prefer a diagnosis before treatment. PIPT with medication or a prescription combined with a home-based test-kit may be the way forward. However, PN seems to be influenced by type of partner and cultural background, requiring differentiated PN and partner therapy methods.

show abstract

A pill for the partner via the chlamydia patient? Results from a mixed method study among sexual health care providers in the Netherlands

Cited by 2 publications

References 33 publications

Controversies and evidence on Chlamydia testing and treatment in asymptomatic women and men who have sex with men: a narrative review

Controversies and evidence on Chlamydia testing and treatment in asymptomatic women and men who have sex with men: a narrative review

Patient initiated partner treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the Netherlands: views of patients with and partners notified for Chlamydia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About