Background Case detection through screening and partner notification are the two strategies used by the state Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control Programs in USA for STD control and prevention. Most of the state programs do not use partner notification for Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia cases because of lack of personnel and financial resources. To focus the limited resources in high morbidity STD states, partner notification is solely targeted towards syphilis and HIV cases. However, systematic analysis is needed to understand the effectiveness of partner notification for STDs other than syphilis and HIV cases. The objective of this study is to carryout partner notification via telephone of Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia cases detected in two STD/ Family Planning clinics in Louisiana.

Methods All Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia cases detected at two STD/Family Planning clinics (pilot sites) were selected for telephone interview. Three trained telephone interviewers are provided with the contact information of positive cases. The interviewers made up to seven attempts to interview the index cases. Information regarding sexual partners and contact information was obtained from the interviewed cases. Later the partners were notified for testing and treatment.

Results From July to December 2010, 512 Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia cases were detected at these two pilot sites and 237 cases (46.3%) were interviewed. Missing valid contact numbers and inability to contact the case by the seventh attempt were the main reasons for the relatively low interview rate. A total of 129 partners were elicited from 237 index cases. 87 partners (67.4%) sought medical evaluation, 49 partners (37.9%) were infected and treated, and 38 partners (29.5%) received preventive treatment.

Conclusion Our study shows that partner elicitation and notification for Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia cases via telephone can be an effective mechanism in high morbidity STD areas. In our pilot testing, 100 patients provided information on additional 54 contacts and 100 index cases lead to treatment of additional 21 cases. Treatment of these 21 cases and preventive treatment of additional cases should have significant impact on overall prevalence of the diseases if the program is adopted at the state level, especially in the high morbidity STD states.