Rapid testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections improve patient care and yield public health benefits

Abstract

A service evaluation of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) testing and result notification in patients attending a rapid testing service (Dean Street Express [DSE]) compared with those attending an existing ‘standard’ sexual health clinic (56 Dean Street [56DS]), and modelling the impact of the new service from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015. Primary outcome: time from patients’ sample collection to notification of test results at DSE compared with 56DS. Secondary outcomes estimated using a model: number of transmissions prevented and the number of new partner visits avoided and associated cost savings achieved due to rapid testing at DSE. In 2014/15, there were a total of 81,352 visits for CT/NG testing across 56DS (21,086) and DSE (60,266). Rapid testing resulted in a reduced mean time to notification of 8.68 days: 8.95 days for 56DS (95% CI 8.91–8.99) compared to 0.27 days for DSE (95% CI 0.26–0.28). Our model estimates that rapid testing at DSE would lead to 196 CT and/or NG transmissions prevented (2.5–97.5% centile range = 6–956) and lead to annual savings attributable to reduced numbers of partner attendances of £124,283 (2.5–97.5% centile range = £4260–590,331). DSE, a rapid testing service for asymptomatic infections, delivers faster time to result notification for CT and/or NG which enables faster treatment, reduces infectious periods and leads to fewer transmissions, partner attendances and clinic costs.

Introduction

The number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in England continues to rise annually, particularly in groups such as young people and men who have sex with men (MSM).

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is often asymptomatic but is also associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, epididymo-orchitis and infertility. It is the most commonly diagnosed STI in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England, with over 200,000 diagnoses representing nearly 50% of all STI diagnoses in 2015.^1,2 Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) diagnoses increased by 53% between 2012 and 2015 (26,880–41,193 cases). These increases may have resulted from changes in sexual behaviour, improved access to services, increased screening and advances in the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic technology. ³

The UK Department of Health’s Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England called for interventions and actions to improve sexual health outcomes. ⁴ In particular, it mentioned that incorporating the latest technologies into clinical settings provided an opportunity to create sexual health services that improve access, provide prompt diagnosis and treatment, and reduce costs.

Theoretical work has shown that a rapid testing and treatment service for STIs could reduce complications, transmissions, inappropriate treatment and generate £10 million in cost savings to providers if implemented across England. ⁵ In February 2014, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust opened Dean Street Express (DSE), a part of 56 Dean Street (56DS), in Soho, London, offering a walk-in, rapid STI screening service for asymptomatic individuals. ⁶ This is the first rapid testing service of its kind in the UK.

Information on the volume and results of testing, patient service utilisation patterns and time from test to results notification is available from DSE and 56DS for all patients in Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust. This provides an opportunity to test the theory that rapid testing and results supports improved sexual health services and yields a public health benefit. In this service evaluation, we assess the impact that DSE has had on patient care and estimate the public health benefit attained as a result of faster treatment for asymptomatic patients compared to conventional sexual health clinics. We also explore the potential impact on reducing transmissions to new partners by shortening the period between testing and treatment, and the subsequent reduction in partner treatment visits and associated cost.

Methods

As a service evaluation, ethics approval was not sought. We used SQUIRE guidelines in writing this evaluation.

56DS

Prior to the opening of DSE, both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients were seen at 56DS and processing of CT and NG samples was carried out off-site. After DSE opened, symptomatic patients continued to be seen at 56DS with the same testing model; asymptomatic patients were tested at DSE with on-site rapid NAAT testing.

56DS is a publicly-funded, confidential STI service for symptomatic patients and offers broader services such as emergency contraception and post-exposure HIV prophylaxis for sexual exposure.

During the observation period, 56DS used standard off-site laboratory-based nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) testing for CT and/or NG. Test results at 56DS were manually reviewed and actioned. Patients with negative tests were sent an SMS to inform them of their result; patients with positive tests were contacted by SMS if they had received empirical treatment at their initial visit to perform partner notification. Patients with positive test results who had not been given treatment at their initial visit were called by clinic staff to arrange a follow-up appointment.

DSE

DSE is a free, confidential, walk-in STI clinic for men and women without symptoms of STIs, which opened in February 2014. On arrival at DSE, patients complete a short questionnaire on their sexual history using a touchscreen computer. The touchscreen orders the relevant swabs based on their self-reported sexual history. Patients are directed to a cubicle where they take their own swabs/samples according to the directions in a short video. Samples are then immediately delivered to the in-house laboratory via air tube and are processed by a NAAT on the GeneXpert Infinity machine (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Finally, patients have a consultation with a health adviser to review their sexual history and have blood taken for syphilis, HIV and/or hepatitis B/C testing at an off-site laboratory with results notified within four hours. Empirical treatment for STIs and contacts of STIs is not given at DSE. Attenders who are symptomatic and those who reveal they are the contact of infections are directed to 56DS for management and/or treatment. However, patients receiving empirical treatment (because of being symptomatic and/or a partner) were not considered in this analysis.

Results from the GeneXpert machine and blood test results are integrated into the clinic’s electronic patient records (EPR), which allows for automatic collation and delivery of results to patients by SMS. Patients with positive test results are offered treatment at 56DS as soon as possible. More information about the service and a film of the patient pathway within clinic can be accessed online (http://www.deanstreetexpress.nhs.uk/).

Data analysis

EPR data from 56DS and DSE were extracted for the one-year period from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015 inclusive. This period was selected to allow a ‘bedding in’ period following the launch of DSE. The following data were available for each patient-testing attendance: anonymous patient ID, clinic site, date of clinic attendance, gender and sexual orientation (MSM, men who have sex with women [MSW] and women). The date and time of CT/NG result notification by patient ID were extracted.

From patient notes, we extracted data on the number of reported new partners in the last three months for a sample of patients attending DSE over a one-week period (27 April 2015–2 May 2015), as this was incomplete for all patient records in the EPR. In order to be representative of patients attending over the week, we selected the first 12 patients for the 15 sessions over the week (morning, afternoon, evening sessions), from MSW, MSM and women.

The total number of CT/NG testing episodes at DSE and 56DS was estimated as the total of all attendances in which English national coding data (GUMCAD ¹ ) indicated that CT/NG tests occurred: T2 (CT and NG), T3 (CT, NG and syphilis) or T4 (CT, NG, syphilis and HIV) were reported. Testing code T1 (CT only) was excluded as CT testing in isolation is not standard practice. The date and time on which patients had a testing appointment, and the date and time that their test results for CT/NG were sent via SMS were matched using patient IDs.

The time from clinic visit to sending CT/NG results was calculated for each patient, to quantify the delay to notification by clinic site.

Model description and analysis

A model was developed to estimate the potential impact of introducing a rapid testing service for asymptomatic patients at DSE. Rapid testing for asymptomatic patients was not performed at 56DS at any point during this evaluation. Therefore, the model estimated the impact of the reduction in time to result notification as if asymptomatic patients had attended 56DS rather than DSE and their CT/NG tests had been processed in that service. The model estimates the reduction in number of new sexual partners who are spared exposure to CT and/or NG for those with asymptomatic infection with rapid testing compared with slower standard off-site testing. By modelling the reduction in new sexual partners’ exposure, we estimate the reduction in partner notification and treatment (for partners exposed to CT/NG), the cost to clinics for fewer attendances for screening and treatment of partners, and potential public health impact due to transmissions averted.

Results

Clinical data

In 2014/15, there were a total of 81,352 visits for CT/NG testing across 56DS (21,086) and DSE (60,266). The volume of testing attendances increased from an initial five-day moving average of 152.7 per day to 241.0 per day at DSE over the observation period (p for trend = < 0.001), a relative increase of 58% over the year. The volume of testing attendances at 56DS remained relatively static (p for trend = 0.088) over the observation period (Figure 1). The time between patients’ sample collection and notification of CT and NG test results at DSE and 56DS over the observation period are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1.

Moving average of daily attendances for testing at Dean Street Express (DSE) and 56 Dean Street (56DS) over the observation period. Plots represent a moving daily average (period = 5 days) of tests performed at DSE or 56DS. Dashed lines represent the output of unadjusted linear regression of the moving five-day average of daily testing attendances versus attendance date and are provided for illustrative purposes only (p for trend = <0.001 and 0.088 for DSE and 56DS, respectively).

Figure 2.

Time from testing visit to results being reported to patients by text message; for Dean Street Express and 56 Dean Street. Broken vertical lines denote the mean.

Visits for CT/NG testing generated a total of 40,982 CT/NG test notifications from 56DS and 102,060 from DSE. Ninety-seven per cent of these results (138,936) were matched to data describing dates and times for testing and result notification. Of these, 138,261 (99.5%) were eligible for inclusion (delay between time of appointment and test notification is positive and ≤ 30 days).

The mean delay between eligible pairs of clinic appointments and test result notifications was 8.95 days (95% CI 8.91–8.99 days) for 56DS and 0.27 days (95% CI 0.26–0.28 days) at DSE (Figure 2). This resulted in a reduction in time to result notification of 8.68 days.

Data on the mean (and median) number of new partners in the past three months for women, MSW and MSM were 1.82 (1), 1.93 (1) and 3.78 (2), respectively (distribution show in Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Total number of new partners reported in the last three months for (a) MSM, (b) MSW and (c) women; broken vertical line denote the mean.MSM: men who have sex with men; MSW: men who have sex with women.

The distributions used for our Monte Carlo simulations were based on our observed results and data from existing literature; the distributions and their coefficients are described in the supplementary table (Table 2 in Appendix 1).

Our model estimated that implementing a rapid CT/NG testing service at DSE led to 854 partner attendances averted (2.5–97.5% centile range = 31–4040), prevented 196 CT and/or NG transmissions (2.5–97.5% centile range = 6–956) and led to annual savings attributable to reduced numbers of partner attendances of £124,283 (IQR = £4260–590,331).

Discussion

The rapid STI testing service at DSE has reduced the time from clinic attendance for asymptomatic CT and NG testing and notification of results by over a week to a few hours – a relative reduction of 97%. Adoption of rapid CT/NG testing has the potential to realise a number of ‘knock-on’ public health benefits, some of which are incorporated into our model: fewer transmissions and partners to contact trace, and fewer tests and empirical treatments for contacts. Our findings complement analyses demonstrating the savings in baseline costs associated with deployment of rapid testing in open-access GUM clinics.^5,7

The ability of DSE to consistently deliver rapid testing and notification of CT/NG samples is, in part, due to the lean service delivery model that has been adopted. The service was designed to minimise the number of steps involved in the patient journey and the management of test results. The direct linkage between the results data generated by the GeneXpert platform and DSE’s EPR system enables the clinic to notify patients as they become available, compared to relying on manual result collection and notification. Although not captured in our analysis, it will also mean less staff time (and costs) to notify patients of results.

Concerns about the potentially deleterious effect that the immediacy of result notification may have on patient willingness to attend for testing have been raised by other studies examining the role of rapid tests for CT and NG.^8,9 Conversely, daily demand for the rapid testing service offered at DSE has increased by 59% over the observation period. This may indicate that the DSE services have answered an unmet need for rapid STI testing and treatment services.

Our study is based on a large sample of patients across two clinic sites over the same year-long observation period, minimising any transient seasonal differences in sexual behaviours, patterns of social mixing, prevalence or health-seeking behaviours. Whilst our simulations show a wide range in the distribution of savings, rapid test notification consistently leads to monetary benefits across the various combinations of input parameters in our simulations.

There are several limitations to this analysis. First, our results may not be wholly generalizable to other settings across the UK and internationally due to differences in which patients access services or how these services are delivered. The majority of NG/CT tests in DSE and 56DS are in MSM, whereas nationally MSM account for 12% of STI testing episodes tests. ¹ This suggests that there may not be as large a public health benefit, as MSM have higher rates of new partners than MSW and women. However, clinics outside central London could still benefit from the same model of rapid testing and faster treatment, in terms of reductions in transmissions and partner treatment visits averted.

Second, we did not have access to the paired GeneXpert-EPR data from the clinic for notification of results. This meant that we could not directly categorise CT and/or NG positivity rates by gender and sexual orientation. Instead, we relied on proxy measures to identify samples originating from MSM and classify results as being from ‘MSM’ and ‘non-MSM’. The anatomical site for each sample result was unavailable. Third, whilst we know the exact date and time attendees were notified of their results via SMS, we do not know when they have read or actioned the message. Fourth, we have not analysed the impact of infections for bisexual or transgender patients attending our service.

In this analysis, we assumed that the delay between result notification and attendance for treatment is the same; earlier analysis has shown this is similar for DSE and 56DS.^10,11 In the absence of other data, we have used a low daily transmission probability for CT and NG in our model, which may underestimate the magnitude of public health benefits as a result of this service reconfiguration. We have assumed that sexual behaviour with regards to new sexual partners remains the same in the period between testing and receiving results as before testing; if this is lower, it may overestimate the impact of rapid testing. Because we took partner data from a small sample of patients, we have missed some of the patients who report very high numbers of partners; this will reduce the mean and underestimate the impact of DSE leading to more conservative results. Also, those with CT and/or NG may have higher partner numbers than those without infection and our model has not modelled the impact of this, perhaps underestimating the effects of rapid results.

Our model ignored any public health benefits of rapidly notifying for other infections tested at DSE such as syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B and C.

Further research is warranted to assess the reproducibility of the services offered at DSE in other clinics in a range of rural and urban settings. It would also be useful to estimate the initial set-up costs for the infrastructure required for rapid testing and notification, the effect this service may have on the systematic collection of data describing the prevalence and patterns of antimicrobial resistance and what impact expanding rapid testing to other organisms such as syphilis and HIV may have.

Although we have not modelled the effect that rapid testing may have on the prevalence of CT and NG beyond the potential for shortening infectious periods and subsequently decreasing the number of transmission opportunities, existing evidence indicates that rapid CT/NG testing has the potential to considerably reduce the prevalence of CT and NG.

Our evaluation provides real-world evidence to enable decision-makers and commissioners to rationalise expenditure and maximise outcomes when considering the funding and structure of their STI services. It shows the unmet need for a rapid testing service based on the large increases in patient attendances, and the potential public health benefits and cost savings of implementing such a service.