Testing and Prophylaxis for Adolescent Victims of Sexual Assault in Pediatric EDs

Compliance with recommended testing and prophylaxis for adolescent victims of sexual assault was unacceptably low and highly variable among 38 pediatric emergency departments.

For adolescent victims of sexual assault, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea; prophylaxis for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas; pregnancy testing; and emergency contraception for female victims presenting within 120 hours of assault. In a retrospective study, investigators reviewed testing and prophylaxis practices for 12,687 adolescent victims (age, 12–18 years) of sexual assault (93% female) who presented to 38 pediatric emergency departments (EDs) from 2004 to 2013.

Overall, 30% of patients presented to EDs with standardized sexual assault clinical pathways and 64% to EDs with specialized evaluation teams. Only 44% of patients received recommended testing. Testing rates across…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Testing and Prophylaxis for Adolescent Victims of Sexual Assault in Pediatric EDs

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Reviewing Author