This guideline is useful for us. It lists the time-span that you have to look back over in a patient with an STD for partner notification and is an excellent resource if you’re not sure if partner notification needs to be initiated or not.
Patients really need to be referred to GU for partner notification. If they refuse, then this needs to be documented.
Remember that PID and epididymo-orchitis are often sexually transmitted and so need to be referred for partner notification, even if nothing is grown on swabs. Partners from the last 6 months will normally be tested and empirically treated too, even if swabs are negative. I guess that we need to use our judgement in deciding when we think there is a risk of STD being involved here.