R Eitrem1, M Erenius, A Meeuwisse. 1. Department of Communicable Disease Control, Blekinge Hospital, Karlskrona, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Contact tracing is one of the measures used to control genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To assess important variables of contact tracing in an everyday clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN: Patients reported according to the STD Act were studied in a prospective, consecutive county-based study. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients had a mean of 2.2 partners. The social worker's patients reported significantly more partners than the physicians' patients. The median number of patients at the 26 involved institutions was 3. Treatment without a prior examination was prescribed to 4% of the partners; 95% of all notified partners were examined, and a majority of them were chlamydia-infected. CONCLUSION: The requirements of the STD Act in Sweden are being followed reasonably well by health providers responsible for contact tracing, although an experienced social worker seems to get better results.
BACKGROUND: Contact tracing is one of the measures used to control genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To assess important variables of contact tracing in an everyday clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN:Patients reported according to the STD Act were studied in a prospective, consecutive county-based study. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients had a mean of 2.2 partners. The social worker's patients reported significantly more partners than the physicians' patients. The median number of patients at the 26 involved institutions was 3. Treatment without a prior examination was prescribed to 4% of the partners; 95% of all notified partners were examined, and a majority of them were chlamydia-infected. CONCLUSION: The requirements of the STD Act in Sweden are being followed reasonably well by health providers responsible for contact tracing, although an experienced social worker seems to get better results.