Control of epidemic early syphilis: the results of an intervention campaign using social networks.
BACKGROUND
During an epidemic of early syphilis, social networks were used for an intervention campaign.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the epidemic and describe the yield of new cases from index-case interviews.


METHODS
Analyses of morbidity data collected by the Montgomery County, Alabama, sexually transmitted disease program determined the course of the epidemic and characterized the new case yields from social networks identified via index-case interviews (partner notification investigations) and interviews with sex partners and their associates (cluster investigations). Results and costs were compared to a noncampaign period.


RESULTS
The number of reported syphilis cases nearly doubled from 1990 to 1991 (201 to 348 per 100,000 residents). During the 21-week campaign, 373 case-patients had partner notification/cluster investigations; 113 (11%) of 984 sex partners and 41 (3%) of 1,146 high-risk associates (persons identified during cluster investigations) had syphilis. No subgroup of case-patients for which the partner notification/cluster investigation yielded more infected persons than other subgroups was identified. The cost per case detected was more than twice that during a noncampaign period ($1,627 vs. $771).


CONCLUSIONS
Partner notification investigations yielded more infected persons than cluster investigations. Further evaluation is needed to determine the role of intense partner notification/cluster investigators' efforts in the control of epidemic syphilis.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013587:Syphilis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D016578:Crack Cocaine