Report 9 of the Council on Scientific Affairs (A-05)

Expedited Partner Therapy (Patient-delivered Partner Therapy) 

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Summary

Objective.  To describe the AMA’s current collaborative efforts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the issue of expedited partner therapy (EPT) and provide recommendations for consideration by the AMA  House of Delegates.

Data Sources.  The AMA participated in a meeting, Expedited Partner Therapy Stakeholders Consultation, organized by the CDC on March 2-3, 2005.  This meeting presented a systematic review of the science of EPT as well as significant background information on the issues that need to be considered when implementing EPT.

Results/Conclusions. The CDC has already expended significant effort in researching the scientific evidence for or against a more widespread implementation of EPT.  It appears from the presentations and discussions at the CDC-sponsored EPT stakeholder meeting held in Atlanta on March 2-3, 2005, that the medical and scientific evidence supports the use of EPT in treating the sex partners of patients who have been diagnosed with either chlamydial or gonorrheal infections.  However, numerous barriers remain to be addressed for EPT be successfully implemented throughout the United States.  The AMA should remain engaged with the CDC as it completes its guidance on the implementation of EPT.  Following official publication of the guidance, the AMA can review and offer its support for the guidance recommendations at that time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The following statements, recommended by the Council on Scientific Affairs, were adopted by the AMA House of Delegates as AMA directives at the 2005 AMA Annual Meeting:

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