Interval to treatment of sexually transmitted infections in adolescent females

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To describe (1) the treatment interval for adolescent females with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV); (2) the proportion treated in < or =7 days; and (3) factors influencing the treatment interval.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Charts of sexually active females from an urban teen health center who participated in a larger study and were positive for CT, GC or TV (N = 58) were retrospectively reviewed for dates of treatment, and compared to demographic and symptom data. The treatment interval was defined as days from visit to treatment. CT and/or GC were analyzed together (CT/GC) because presumptive treatment covered both infections, and the diagnostic test (nucleic acid amplification) differed from that of TV (wet mount or culture).

RESULTS

The median treatment interval was 0 days for TV, 5 days for CT/GC, and 3 days for any STI. Overall, 39 (69%) were treated within 7 days of their visit. Those with TV were more likely than those with CT/GC to receive treatment at their initial visit (58% vs. 6%). Genitourinary symptoms increased the odds of treatment in < or =7 days. The treatment interval was significantly shorter for subjects who had their prescriptions phoned to a pharmacy than for those who returned to clinic for treatment (median 2.5 vs. 8 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Where presumptive treatment was uncommon, providers were more likely to prescribe same-day therapy to symptomatic patients or those with TV on wet mount. Additional strategies are needed to improve the proportion of adolescent females treated in < or =7 days.