title: Interval to treatment of sexually transmitted infections in adolescent females.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe (1) the treatment interval for adolescent females with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV); (2) the proportion treated in < or =7 days; and (3) factors influencing the treatment interval.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts of sexually active females from an urban teen health center who participated in a larger study and were positive for CT, GC or TV (N = 58) were retrospectively reviewed for dates of treatment, and compared to demographic and symptom data. The treatment interval was defined as days from visit to treatment. CT and/or GC were analyzed together (CT/GC) because presumptive treatment covered both infections, and the diagnostic test (nucleic acid amplification) differed from that of TV (wet mount or culture).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median treatment interval was 0 days for TV, 5 days for CT/GC, and 3 days for any STI. Overall, 39 (69%) were treated within 7 days of their visit. Those with TV were more likely than those with CT/GC to receive treatment at their initial visit (58% vs. 6%). Genitourinary symptoms increased the odds of treatment in < or =7 days. The treatment interval was significantly shorter for subjects who had their prescriptions phoned to a pharmacy than for those who returned to clinic for treatment (median 2.5 vs. 8 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Where presumptive treatment was uncommon, providers were more likely to prescribe same-day therapy to symptomatic patients or those with TV on wet mount. Additional strategies are needed to improve the proportion of adolescent females treated in < or =7 days.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA.
authors.forename: Amina I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Jill S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huppert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000628:therapy; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000628:therapy; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents