Audit on the success of partner notification for sexually transmitted infections in the West Midlands

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the success of partner notification (PN) among 13 genitourinary medicine centres in West Midlands. The West Midlands Audit Group conducted a regional audit between June and August 2007. Information on screening and management of patients with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, early syphilis and HIV were collected separately. Participating centres were asked to provide PN details for 10 index patients with each of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, early syphilis and HIV infections. For each index patient with chlamydia or gonorrhoea, 0.54 and 0.44 partners were screened, respectively. Among partners of patients with syphilis and HIV, 24% and 35% were screened, respectively. Only 9% of 311 screened partners were involved in casual partnerships with index patients. Acquisition of more robust targets for PN, better documentation, improved communication between genitourinary (GU) medicine centres, and provider referral may improve the performance of PN for Sexually transmitted infections.