Sexually Transmitted Diseases  >  Expedited Partner Therapy

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is the clinical practice of treating the sex partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea by providing prescriptions or medications to the patient to take to his/her partner without the health care provider first examining the partner.

Review and Guidance

Expedited Partner Therapy in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (2 February 2006)

Dear Colleague Letter from John M. Douglas, Jr., MD., Director, Division of STD Prevention (12 May 2005)

Legal Status

 Legal Status of EPT by Jurisdiction

Dear Colleague Letter from John M. Douglas, Jr., MD., Director, Division of STD Prevention on the legal status of EPT (19 December 2006)

EPT Resources from States

• American Bar Association resolution supporting removal of legal barriers to the provision of EPT. (15 August 2008)
• Texas Department of State Health Services EPT Resources (1 August 2008)
• Guidelines for Expedited Partner Therapy -  from New Mexico Department of Health (2 April 2008)
• Background and Recommendations for Incorporating Patient Delivered Partner Therapy (PDPT) by Health Care Providers - from Washington State Department of Health (20 February 2008)
• Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Infections - from Washington State Department of Health (20 February 2008)
• Patient-Delivered Partner Therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Guidance for Medical Providers in California - California Department of Health Services STD Control Branch, March 27, 2007

Other Resources

• Battling a Silent Enemy (see pages 28-31) - An article on expedited partner therapy in the March edition of State News, a publication of CDC partner, The Council of State Governments. (22 March 2007)
• American Medical Association Update on Expedited Partner Therapy (Patient-delivered Partner Therapy), June 2006
  

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