Partner Treatment

Partners of patients with an STD are likely to be infected themselves and should be offered treatment. Partner notification and referral can be one of the most important ways to detect and treat asymptomatic patients. Confidentiality, a non-judgmental attitude and the absence of coercion are important for the success of partner notification. The WHO recommends epidemiological treatment (treatment based solely on the diagnosis of the index patient without any laboratory investigation) be given to all partners.²³

An important implication of the low positive predictive value of some flowcharts is the over treatment of partners, resulting in unnecessary drugs given and the psychological cost of inappropriate labeling.