Sexually Transmitted Diseases & HIV/AIDS Prevention & Control Program
The Sexually Transmitted Diseases & HIV/AIDS Prevention & Control Program within the Division of Public Health plays a central role in the Health Department’s mission to prevent the occurrence and spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and minimize complications of infection. Unit staff investigate reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), chancroid, mpox, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The Unit initiates disease surveillance and intervention strategies, conducts treatment verification, performs Partner Services and facilitates patient linkage to care in compliance with New York State Public Health Laws and State Sanitary Codes. In addition, it provides education regarding STIs and HIV to the community and medical providers.
Bureau activities include:
- Disease Surveillance: Bureau staff receive lab reports for reportable sexually transmitted infections from the New York State Health Commerce System and contact the provider who ordered the lab test to obtain patient demographics, reason for testing, and other important information. Active surveillance allows us to address the infected individuals faster, thus preventing further spread of infection.
- Case investigation & Treatment verification The Bureau gathers information about cases of sexually transmitted infections and HIV through interviews with patients and/ or their healthcare providers. Patients are counseled regarding disease transmission, communicability, risks, and necessary medical follow-up. Providers are contacted to confirm that persons with STIs have been appropriately treated.
- Partner elicitation and notification: Bureau staff interview persons with STIs to elicit their sexual partners, and the partners are subsequently notified, counseled, and referred for testing and treatment, as appropriate. This partner elicitation and notification are crucial components of our STI prevention effort.
- Risk-reduction counseling. STD/ HIV unit staff counsel persons diagnosed with STIs and their partners regarding STI/ HIV risk reduction. Persons at high-risk for HIV are routinely referred for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP). PREP is medication given to individuals who are HIV negative to prevent them from becoming infected with HIV. Taking this medication for HIV prevention can lower someone’s risk for contracting HIV by 90% (CDC).
- Expanded Partner Services. NY State identifies individuals with HIV who are not currently in care through surveillance of laboratory reporting. Cases are flagged for a lack of routine blood work (HIV viral loads and or CD4 counts) for more than 13 months. The cases are then sent via the Health Commerce System to Suffolk County. STD/ HIV unit staff locate these individuals and link them back into care.
- Provider outreach and education. The unit performs outreach to OBGYN and women’s health providers as well as pediatricians to educate them regarding syphilis testing and treatment guidelines to prevent congenital syphilis. The unit also performs outreach to providers/agencies who conduct STI/HIV screenings to educate them regarding Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT). EPT allows health care providers to prescribe medication for the partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea, and/or trichomoniasis without examining or testing the partners. EPT helps remove barriers to STI treatment for the partner and helps prevent reinfection of the patient.
- STD testing and treatment services: The Department provides STD testing and treatment services to County residents through a partnership with Sun River Health.
- On-call services: Clinical staff are available 24 hours, seven days a week to respond to urgent public health disease inquiries or issues. Physicians, hospitals, laboratories, and others are required to report to the local health department when a high-priority disease is suspected.