{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,26]],"date-time":"2025-10-26T21:35:47Z","timestamp":1761514547601,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"CSIRO Publishing","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756425600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":1995,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/journalslicense"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In the current era of antimicrobial stewardship, the availability of highly sensitive assays and faster turnaround times, the practice of empiric treatment of asymptomatic contacts of gonorrhoea needs review. The views of clinicians in a range of settings across Australia and clinic costs associated with a change of practice was examined. Methods: An online anonymous survey for nurses and doctors working in public sexual health clinics and general practices in urban, regional and rural Australia was developed. Information on the relative importance of a range of factors influencing delivery of empiric treatment was collected. Participants were asked whether current guidelines should change. Results: Surveys were distributed to 468 healthcare providers and 188 (40.2%) fully completed the survey. Most of the participants worked in public practice (84.9%) and 86 (43.2%) were doctors. Factors influencing provision of empiric treatment were: if the patient was unable to return (95.9%) or may not return (95.3%); risk of transmission to others (93.3%); likelihood of infection (88.6%); and patient request (82.9%). Respondents were evenly split as to whether current guidelines should change, with providers in private practice being less likely to support guideline change (P = 0.03). The model of empiric treatment of all asymptomatic sexual contacts was 34% more expensive than a model of testing and treatment of those with a positive result. Conclusion: Currently, the majority of clinicians provide empiric treatment for asymptomatic contacts in Australia. There was significant support for a change in guidelines with specific scenarios requiring individualised responses.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1071\/sh19165","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,13]],"date-time":"2020-03-13T03:28:36Z","timestamp":1584070116000},"page":"155-159","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Provider attitudes to the empiric treatment of asymptomatic contacts of gonorrhoea"],"prefix":"10.1071","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Sheina","family":"Low","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ASchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rick","family":"Varma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BSydney Sexual Health Centre, Nightingale Wing, Sydney Eye Hospital, 8 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia."},{"name":"CThe Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ruthy","family":"McIver","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BSydney Sexual Health Centre, Nightingale Wing, Sydney Eye Hospital, 8 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia."},{"name":"DCorresponding author. Email: ruthy.mciver@health.nsw.gov.au"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tobias","family":"Vickers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BSydney Sexual Health Centre, Nightingale Wing, Sydney Eye Hospital, 8 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia."},{"name":"CThe Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"McNulty","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ASchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia."},{"name":"CThe Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"67","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025102617171305000_R1","unstructured":"Wright S, McNulty A. Test positivity in asymptomatic men who have sex with men who present as a contact of gonorrhoea \u2013 should we change practice? Poster session presented at Australasian Sexual Health Conference; 14\u201316 November 2016; Adelaide, SA, Australia. 2016. Available online at: https:\/\/www.eiseverywhere.com\/file_uploads\/fbf10d3be620dcf5d99f031e5bce5501_SimonWright395.pdf [verified 1 January 2020]."},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"658","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-015-1971-3","article-title":"High prevalence of rectal gonorrhoea among men reporting contact with men with gonorrhoea: implications for epidemiological treatment.","volume":"15","author":"Dutt","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025102617171305000_R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462418799181","article-title":"Empiric antimicrobial treatment for asymptomatic sexual contacts of sexually transmitted infection in the era of antimicrobial resistance: time to rethink?","volume":"30","author":"Pearce","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R4","unstructured":"Australian Sexual Health Alliance. Australian STI management guidelines. Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia: ASHA; 2018. Available online at: http:\/\/www.sti.guidelines.org.au\/sexually-transmissible-infections\/gonorrhoea#contact-tracing [verified 4 July 2019]."},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R5","unstructured":"Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Standard Geographical Classification. Belconnen, ACT, Australia: ABS; 2011. Available online at: https:\/\/www.abs.gov.au\/websitedbs\/D3310114.nsf\/home\/Australian+Standard+Geographical+Classification+(ASGC) [verified 4 July 2019]."},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R6","unstructured":"Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales. Public Health System Nurses\u2019 and midwives\u2019 (state) award 2018. Parramatta, NSW, Australia: Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales; 2018. Available online at: https:\/\/www.health.nsw.gov.au\/careers\/conditions\/Awards\/nurses.pdf [verified 4 July 2019]."},{"issue":"1","key":"2025102617171305000_R7","first-page":"269","article-title":"Factors affecting therapeutic compliance: a review from the patient\u2019s perspective.","volume":"4","author":"Jin","year":"2008","journal-title":"Ther Clin Risk Manag"},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R8"},{"issue":"6","key":"2025102617171305000_R9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2017-4124","article-title":"Outpatient antibiotic use and the need for increased antibiotic stewardship efforts.","volume":"141","author":"Zetts","year":"2018","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"k3047","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.k3047","article-title":"Advances in optimizing the prescription of antibiotics in outpatient settings.","volume":"363","author":"King","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"4","key":"2025102617171305000_R11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"555","DOI":"10.1517\/14656560902731993","article-title":"The use of cephalosporins for gonorrhea: the impending problem of resistance.","volume":"10","author":"Barry","year":"2009","journal-title":"Expert Opin Pharmacother"},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.13600.1","article-title":"Epidemiological, behavioural, and clinical factors associated with antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhoea: a review.","volume":"7","author":"Abraha","year":"2018","journal-title":"F1000Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"2025102617171305000_R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462417721062","article-title":"Auditing the use and assessing the clinical utility of microscopy as a point-of-care test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a sexual health clinic.","volume":"29","author":"Mensforth","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J STD AIDS"},{"issue":"11","key":"2025102617171305000_R14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajic.2017.06.005","article-title":"Working at the intersection of context, culture, and technology: provider perspectives on antimicrobial stewardship in the emergency department using electronic health record clinical decision support.","volume":"45","author":"Chung","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am J Infect Control"},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1186\/1748-5908-8-25","article-title":"Understanding the Canadian adult CT head rule trial: use of the theoretical domains framework for process evaluation.","volume":"8","author":"Curran","year":"2013","journal-title":"Implement Sci"},{"key":"2025102617171305000_R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmedr.2018.08.012","article-title":"Factors influencing application of behavioural science evidence by public health decision-makers and practitioners, and implications for practice.","volume":"12","author":"Curtis","year":"2018","journal-title":"Prev Med Rep"}],"container-title":["Sexual Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/17\/2\/155\/1255866\/sh19165.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article-pdf\/17\/2\/155\/1255866\/sh19165.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,26]],"date-time":"2025-10-26T21:17:20Z","timestamp":1761513440000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/connectsci.au\/sh\/article\/17\/2\/155\/185079\/Provider-attitudes-to-the-empiric-treatment-of"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,13]]},"references-count":16,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,6]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/sh19165","relation":{},"ISSN":["1448-5028","1449-8987"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"1448-5028"},{"type":"electronic","value":"1449-8987"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,13]]}}}