Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is the harm-reduction strategy of treating partners of clients diagnosed with gonorrhea or chlamydia without an intervening medical evaluation or professional prevention counseling.

EPT for partners of MSM should be based on shared clinical decision-making between the client and their provider with consideration for the risk of other STDs and HIV. The usual implementation of EPT is patient-delivered partner therapy, where clients deliver medications or prescriptions to their sexual partner(s). Other potential means to achieve EPT include prescriptive arrangements with cooperating pharmacies, retrieval of medication by partners at public health clinics, or delivery of medication to partners in non-clinical settings by public health workers.

In 2018, 145,874 cases of chlamydial infection and 46,958 cases of gonorrheal infection were reported in Texas. Most healthcare providers advise their clients with STDs to notify their sex partners. Yet, CDC estimates the proportion of partners who seek evaluation and treatment in response to patient referral ranges from 29% to 59%. Studies have demonstrated that re-infection of treated index subjects by untreated partners accounts for 14% to 30% of incident bacterial STDs.

DSHS recommends that all physicians provide expedited partner therapy. In Texas, as of February 2021, oral cefixime is still acceptable to use for EPT for partners of clients diagnosed with gonorrhea. EPT can reduce the risk of re-infection among persons treated for STDs, prevent infections, complications, and reduce transmission to un-infected persons. The benefits outweigh the few drawbacks of EPT.

View the EPT fact sheet and other patient/partner education materials below to learn more.
 

EPT in Texas Law:

• 22 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter §222.4, Minimum Standards for Prescribing or Ordering Drugs and Devices, Rule §222.4(e) 
• 22 TAC §291.29, Professional Responsibility of Pharmacists, Rule §291.29(b)(3)
• 22 TAC §291.33, Operational Standards, Rule §291.29(c)(7)
   

EPT Training

• Expedited Partner Therapy (Cardea Training Center)
   

EPT Documents

• Expedited Partner Therapy for STDs Dear Provider Letter
• Expedited STD Management Implementation Guide
• What About Your Partners? | Y En Cuanto A Sus Parejas?
• HIV/STD Partner Notification: The Health Provider's Role
• Expedited Partner Therapy information from CDC
• Guidance on the Use of Expedited Partner Therapy in the Treatment of Gonorrhea from CDC