A Comparison of Syphilis Partner Notification Outcomes by Reported Use of Internet-based Apps to Meet Sex Partners in North Carolina, 2013–2016

Abstract

We observed no difference in the proportion of locatable partners or likelihood of notifying 1 or more sex partner of exposure among MSM ES patients, by reported use of Internet-based apps to meet sex partners. Partner notification services continues to be an important mechanism to locate and assure treatment for sex partners in this population.

The Changing Role of Disease Intervention Specialists in Modern Public Health Programs

“…Some supervisors felt that without access to current technology, disease intervention specialists may not evolve with the communities they serve and consequently may be unable to connect both literally and figuratively with their patients. Texting or messaging patients and their partners via mobile apps 1,18 –21 and telephone interviews 22 may be useful tools for disease intervention specialists to efficiently and effectively locate patients and their sexual partners, particularly patients who are unavailable during traditional business hours, live in remote parts of the state, or report large numbers of online partners. To allow for the integration of telephone and internet technology currently used by patients into disease intervention specialist work, state and local government policies will need to be changed.…”

Syphilis testing among spouses of patients with syphilis in Japan: an epidemiological study using an administrative claims database

“…18 Recent studies conducted in the United States reported that 63-81% of named partners were tested for syphilis as a result of disease intervention specialist investigations. [19][20][21] In randomised controlled trials of patients with gonorrhoea or chlamydial infection, conducted in the United States, 35-52% of named partners either tested negative or were treated through simple patient referral. 22,23 Another previous randomised controlled trial among men and women with chlamydial infection found that 45% of named partners were treated by simple patient referral.…”

Priorities in the implementation of partner services for HIV/STIs in high-income nations: a narrative review of evidence and recommendations

“…Of the studies included in a recent review, 36 very few were based on realworld PN for people with gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and/or syphilis, [38][39][40][41] and few reported 'downstream' sex partner outcomes, such as the number or proportion of partners tested or treated. 39,40,[42][43][44][45][46] Data from Australia suggest that a digital PN intervention that allows users to notify contacts (either anonymously or by name) using short-message service (SMS) can be brought to scale with increased use over time. 47 Many studies of digital PN do not include a control group.…”