On September 3, 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Dear Colleague letter as guidance on the prioritization of testing certain populations when diagnostic test kits are limited.
HHS Dear Colleague Letter Considerations for prioritizing STI testing if test kits are in short supply September 3, 2020
Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments are operating on revised Screening Criteria for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea issued by Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).
GA DPH Screening Criteria for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Rev. November 1, 2020
STI screening according to the CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines, 2015, should be resumed when the CT/GC diagnostic test kit supply and distribution is normalized. Additional CDC STD shortage updates and guidance can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/default.htm.
Azithromycin Shortage
Azithromycin, recommended treatment for chlamydia, nongonoccoal urethritis and cervicitis, is in limited supply for some manufacturers. On April 14, 2020 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a shortage announcement. Alternative regimens can be found in the 2015 STD Treatment Guidelines.
Expedited Partner Therapy
Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) helps to reduce sexually transmitted infections. Clinicians use EPT to give to patients diagnosed with STD by writing prescriptions for the patients and their partners. EPT is legally permissible in Georgia, https://www.cdc.gov/std/ept/legal/georgia.htm. You can find more information from Georgia Department of Public Health by reading the Expedited Partner Therapy Guidance for Healthcare Professionals, released November 2019 for details.
The Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments does not participate in expedited partner treatment.