Factors associated with non-guideline-adherent treatment for gonorrhea and chlamydia among outpatient prescriptions in the Unites States

Abstract

Background: Patients at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI) frequently receive care at non-specialized outpatient clinics staffed by physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs).Methods: Retrospective cohort study including adult patients diagnosed with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea at urgent care (UC), family medicine (FM), internal medicine (IM) or obstetrics and gynecology (Ob-Gyn) clinics. The effect of type of clinician on guideline-adherent treatment was estimated using logistic regression adjusted for age, type of clinic, type of infection, and (in female patients) pregnancy status.Results: A total of 1021 patients were identified, 654 (64.1%) females and 367 (35.9%) males. Overall, 12.8% (84/654) of female patients and 19.1% (70/367) of male patients received inadequate antibiotic therapy. Among females, 63.5% (415/654) were treated by APCs and 36.5% (239/654) by physicians. Odds of inadequate therapy did not differ when comparing APCs to physicians (OR 0.83 [95% CI 0.52-1.32; p = .42]). Variables independently associated with inadequate therapy were pregnancy (OR 3.80 [95% CI 1.55-6.10; p < .001]), infection with gonorrhea (OR 2.91 [95% CI 1.65-5.10; p < .0001]) and co-infection (OR 2.63 [95% CI 1.24-5.58; p = .01]) compared to infection with chlamydia alone. Compared to UC clinics, female patients treated at Ob-Gyn clinics had lower odds of inadequate therapy (OR 0.45 [95% CI 0.22-0.90; p = .02]). Among males, odds of inadequate therapy did not differ by clinician type.Conclusions: Inadequate antibiotic therapy for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea was not associated with type of clinician. These results can help guide educational strategies and resources towards the clinical settings with the greatest gaps in adequacy of management of chlamydia and gonorrhea.