Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)

Section 693.150  Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) a)         Persons with a clinical diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, preferably confirmed with a laboratory test, are eligible for EPT. b)         Sex partners of patients treated for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, who were exposed within the previous 60 days and who are unable or unlikely to seek medical care are eligible for EPT.  If there were no sex partners within the previous 60 days, the most recent sex partner is eligible. c) Health care professionals who provide EPT shall comply with Sections 4 and 5 of the Act. (Section 6(e)(2) of the Act) d)         EPT is not contraindicated for pregnant partners.  Health care professionals shall strongly consider providing EPT and should attempt to contact the pregnant partner and ensure that the pregnant partner is referred for medical care. e) Health care professionals who provide EPT shall provide counseling for the patient and written materials provided by the Department to be given by the patient to the partner or partners that include, at a minimum, the following: 1) A warning that a woman who is pregnant or might be pregnant must not take certain antibiotics; 2)         A recommendation that the pregnant person contact their prenatal care provider to inform them that they have been given EPT; 3) Information about the antibiotic and dosage provided or prescribed; clear and explicit allergy and side effect warnings, including a warning that a partner who has a history of allergy to the antibiotic or the pharmaceutical class of antibiotic must not take the antibiotic and must be immediately examined by a health care professional, and a recommendation for such an examination; 4) Information about the treatment and prevention of sexually transmissible infections; 5) The requirement of abstinence until a period of time after treatment to prevent infecting others; 6) Notification of the: A) importance of the partner or partners of the patient receiving examination and testing for HIV and other sexually transmissible infections; and B) available resources; 7) Notification of the risk to self, others, and the public health if the sexually transmissible infection is not completely and successfully treated; 8) The responsibility of the partner or partners to inform their sex partner or partners of the risk of sexually transmissible infection and the importance of prompt examination and treatment. (Section 6(e)(3) of the Act) f) A healthcare professional prescribing, dispensing, furnishing, or otherwise providing in good faith without fee and compensation prescription antibiotics to partners under this Section and providing counseling and written materials as required by subsection (e) shall not be subject to civil or professional liability, except for willful and wanton misconduct.  A health care professional shall not be subject to civil or professional liability for choosing not to provide expedited partner therapy. (Section (6)(e)(5) of the Act) g)         Educational materials will instruct all EPT recipients to seek care for STI and to seek HIV testing, regardless of whether they take the medication. h)         Medication may be dispensed directly to the patient for delivery to the partner or partners.  If the partner or partners are unable or unlikely to seek medical care, the prescription for the medication may be provided to the patient to be delivered to the partner or partners. A combination of partner strategies may be used; for example, a patient with several partners may refer one partner to a health care professional, but take EPT for other partners.