Epidemiological treatment of sexual contacts prevents recurrence of non-gonococcal urethritis.

Of 98 male patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) who had regular female consorts who received concurrent epidemiological treatment, NGU recurred in four (16%) men whose treated partners were initially chlamydia positive and 20 (27%) men whose treated partners were initially chlamydia negative. Of 32 men whose regular female sexual partners refused to attend, 26 (77%) men suffered a recurrence of NGU. All study patients were selected because they were in monogamous relationships and returned to the clinic either because of a recurrence of NGU or for unrelated reasons at least 12 months after treatment. We recommend the routine epidemiological treatment of all sexual contacts of men with NGU.