Martha's Case: The Unwelcome Phone Call

You chose 1: that is incorrect.

The correct answer is 2: Get more information about her risk factors for STI, then test her for gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) and treat her now for both.

Because Martha has been identified as a sexual contact of a known case of an STI, she is most at risk for an STI. Martha's other risk factors for STI need to be identified. She should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia and treated for both.

Treating Martha only if her tests are found to be positive is risky. Her tests could be falsely negative. She could also develop complications or pass the infection on to other sexual partners in the meantime. And she may not come back for her test results and any necessary treatment. Testing before treatment helps in further partner notification.

Treating for both infections without prior testing should only be done when tests are poorly accessible (such as for street youth) or in a person who refuses to be tested. This strategy may be problematic if gonorrhea is present and the strain is resistant to antibiotics.