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Partner notification as a public health measure to reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a cornerstone of STI control in most countries. The success of any partner notification strategy is conditional on its acceptability and feasibility to both patients and health-care professionals, its compliance with relevant professional and legislative guidance, and its cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the effectiveness and reliability issues of HIV partner notification (PN). The author reacts on the laissez-faire HIV partner notification (PN), due to lack of relevant information from sex partners. The author cites the research conducted by David A. Katz and his colleagues on the verification issues of the disease intervention specialists' (DIS) code results.

The author reflects on the practice of patient in patient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) for the prevention of reinfection for curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The author mentions that PDPT is also known as expedited partner therapy (EPT) which provides medication or prescription to patients with treatable STI to deliver to their sex partner. The author stresses that the person who deliver the therapy needs to understand the significance of their task and must be good communicators.

Quality Improvement Scotland standards for sexual health services require that 0.64 contacts per case should be verified as having attended within 90 days of the first partner notification interview. Partner delivered therapy results in more patients being treated than when patients are given information for partners but removes the possibility of further cases of Chlamydia trachomatis being diagnosed through the tracing of secondary contacts. An audit was performed to estimate the impact of removing secondary contacts on the number of chlamydial infections identified in our service. Patients who were not known to be contacts of chlamydial infection were included. One hundred and twenty-seven index cases generated 189 contacts, of which 100 were confirmed as tested and treated. Sixty-four were C. trachomatis positive, who in turn generated 36 new contacts. Fourteen of these were positive. Secondary contact tracing identified 22-28% more cases of chlamydial infection in our service than if all partners were treated without testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents news and information on studies related to sexually transmitted infections (STI), as of August 2015. Topics covered include the potential role for the CS21 barrier genital gel in the management of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV), the prevalence of hearing loss in HIV-positive adults, and the subsequent HIV seroconversion of those who are diagnosed with syphilis. The suspension of the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) is noted.

A correction to the article "Initial evaluation of use of an online partner notification tool for STI, called 'suggest a test': a cross sectional pilot study" in a 2014 issue is presented.

The article discusses the increasing incidence of gonorrhea in Montana counties associated with American Indian reservations during the January 2012 to August 2014 period. Topics explored include the gonorrhea cases recorded by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, the gonorrhea treatment recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the improvement of sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing practices by the Indian Health Service (IHS).

The article offers information on patient delivered partner therapy (PDPT) or expedited partner therapy (EPT) for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This therapy reduces reinfections and additional transmissions through index patients providing antibiotics to their infected partners. Moreover, it indicates that untreated partners contribute to the increasing incidence of reinfection among individuals with curable STIs.