Web-Based Partner Notification for Syphilis

Control of syphilis in the U.S. has been based on contact tracing and partner notification. However, the incidence of syphilis has been rising since 2000, particularly in men who have sex with men. This increase has paralleled a change in dating practices in this population: Individuals now meet partners pseudonymously on the Internet, without revealing their real names, their phone numbers, or their physical addresses. To cope with this change, the CDC encouraged public health departments to incorporate Internet-based interventions in their syphilis case-management programs. The Washington, D.C., Department of Public Health (DCDOH) recently evaluated the first 18 months of their Internet-based Partner Identification Program.

Between January 2007 and June 2008, the DCDOH initiated 361 case investigations of confirmed early syphilis infection; 286 patients completed interviews, reporting a total of 1196 partners. Among the 188 patients who revealed partner information, 27 provided Internet-locating information for at least one partner. These 27 cases accounted for 535 partners, of whom 381 were identified only by Internet location. The 381 Internet partners were sent e-mails; 65 had full follow-up with the DCDOH, and an additional 110 contacted the DCDOH to receive information about syphilis disease and treatment.