American journal of preventive medicine
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To conduct an evidence-based review of the literature on the effectiveness of partner notification strategies for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States. ⋯ There is good evidence that partner notification is a means of newly detecting infections. In addition, there is fair evidence that provider referral generally ensures that more partners are notified and medically evaluated than does self referral. More research is needed to improve elicitation and notification procedures and tailor them to specific populations, to assess the effect of new testing technologies on partner notification, and to understand the consequences of partner notification for infected persons and their partners.
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To examine the effects of a community program on tuberculosis incidence, prevalence, and transmission requiring users of public facilities to carry cards certifying their compliance with a tuberculosis screening, prophylaxis, and treatment program. Community knowledge of tuberculosis and costs and benefits of the program are described. ⋯ A program of mandated compliance with tuberculosis skin testing, radiologic and sputum examination and treatment, coupled with education and outreach, succeeded in drastically reducing active tuberculosis, transmission, deaths, and cost in a homeless community.