title: Partner notification for gonococcal and chlamydial infections in men who have sex with men: success is underestimated by traditional disposition codes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent reports evaluating partner notification (PN) efforts among men who have sex with men (MSM) have observed relatively poor outcomes. However, the validity of traditional PN disposition codes is not known, possibly leading to overly pessimistic assessments of PN outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate PN practices among MSM with gonococcal or chlamydial infection, assess the utility of offering MSM PN assistance and compare patient self-reported PN outcomes with those recorded using Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) disposition codes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the records of all MSM with gonococcal or chlamydial infection interviewed by Public Health-Seattle and King County for purposes of PN in 2004. Men were asked to indicate whether each of their sex partners were already notified or treated at time of interview and were offered PN assistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DIS interviewed 409 of 628 (65%) MSM reported with gonococcal or chlamydial infection. Three hundred thirteen of the 409 (76%) interviewed men provided information about their number of sex partners in the 60 days before diagnosis and specific information about 1 or more of their potentially exposed partners. These index cases reported a total of 1037 sex partners, but provided information about only 634 (61%). Two hundred thirteen of the 313 (68%) index cases reported notifying at least 1 partner. Index cases reported that 295 of all 1037 (28%) reported partners had been notified, and that 170 (16%) were treated; DIS disposition codes documented the treatment of 111 (11%) partners. Only 18 (6%) index cases requested DIS assistance contacting a partner; DIS notified and assured the treatment of 24 of the 35 (69%) partners reported by these 18 men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although MSM with gonorrhea or chlamydia seldom accept assistance notifying partners, they report higher levels of partner treatment than suggested by DIS disposition codes, with 68% indicating that they had notified at least 1 sex partner and 46% reporting that at least 1 of their partners received treated.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Center for AIDS and STD, University of Washington, Seatle, Washington, USA. menza@u.washington.edu
authors: Timothy W
authors: TW
authors: Menza
authors: Jef
authors: J
authors: St De Lore
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Fleming
authors: Matthew R
authors: MR
authors: Golden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology