EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TREATMENT; TREATMENT SHOULD BE SPECIFIC; COUNSELLING
The term ‘epidemiological treatment’ is applied to the treatment of the sexual partner of a person known to be infected with a pathogen associated with a high risk of infection and serious sequelae whether or not there is laboratory evidence of infection.
Although treatment is given to contacts without proof of infection in some situations, shotgun therapy and repeated antibiotic prescriptions should not displace proper clinical evaluation of genital infections. Appropriate laboratory investigation should be undertaken unless precluded by circumstances.
The patient should be counselled (see p. 10) about the natural history of the disease, sequelae and method of spread, the effectiveness and side effects of therapy and the need for follow-up. The need to investigate the sexual contacts of the patient must be stressed. Advice about reducing the risk of infection should be given.
*8/56/1*
