Partner management for sexually transmissible infections: better options and guidelines please

摘要

A cornerstone in the control of sexually transmissible infectionn(STIs) includes the testing and treatment of sexual partners ofnpatients diagnosed with treatable STIs – widely referred to asnpartner notification or contact tracing. At its most basic level,npartner notification simply involves a clinician discussingnwith a patient the need for partners to be tested and treatednappropriately. Testing of sexual partners of individualsndiagnosed with STIs generally yields a higher rate of STIsncompared with individuals unselectively screened for STIs,nwarranting efforts supporting partner notification. Furthermore,ntreatment of partners reduces the likelihood of index patientsnbeing re-infected and most likely further transmission andncomplications from untreated infection.n1,2nPartners who arenmade aware of their situation are also given the opportunity tonseek information and counselling and to adopt preventativenmeasures.