How Well Do Public and Private Healthcare Providers Manage Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?

Screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia has enabled early detection of these infections with the goal of preventing complications and further transmission. However, the effectiveness of such an approach depends on provision of appropriate therapy to infected persons. Investigators in Indiana used linked electronic medical records, Medicaid claims, and public health department records to assess the proportions of patients with gonorrhea or chlamydia who received therapy and whether such therapy followed current CDC STI Treatment Guidelines.

Between 2016 and 2020 in Indianapolis, chlamydia was diagnosed in 52,946 patients, of whom 19% were seen in the public STI clinic and 81% by private providers. Gonorrhea was diagnosed in 25,699 patients, 24%…