The Impact of Prescriptions on Sex Partner Treatment Using Expedited Partner Therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis Infection, New York City, 2014-2015.

BACKGROUND

Chlamydia trachomatis reinfections, often resulting from resuming sex with untreated partners, can increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Expedited partner therapy (EPT) has been shown to prevent reinfection when provided as medication (Medication-EPT) that patients give to sex partners; however, EPT is often provided as a prescription (Prescription-EPT). We compared partner treatment outcomes for Medication-EPT versus Prescription-EPT.

METHODS

We conducted telephone interviews from October 2014 to October 2015 with a population-based random sample of women aged 15 to 25 years diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis. Interview questions included: demographics, patient-treatment, EPT type, and patient report of partner treatment. The main outcomes explored were: proportion of women receiving EPT, proportion of Prescription-EPT and Medication-EPT, and proportion of partners reported as treated. We used χ and Fisher exact tests for analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 421 women completed the interview; 357 (84.8%) of 421 women reported having been treated, and 109/357 (30.5%) received EPT for any partner. Women given a prescription (vs medication) for their own treatment were more likely to receive EPT (odds ratio, 1.57; P = 0.05) and to receive Prescription-EPT specifically (odds ratio, 6.85; P < 0.0001). Forty-eight (52.2%) of 92 patients who received EPT for their most recent partner received Prescription-EPT. There was no difference by EPT type in proportion of index patients reporting partner treatment: 77.1% (37/48) for Prescription-EPT versus 79.5% (35/44) for Medication-EPT (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Prescription-EPT and Medication-EPT appear to result in comparable rates of partner treatment. Further research is needed to assess the effects of Prescription-EPT on partner treatment among adolescents and in other contexts.