Non-empirical management of asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea reduces unnecessary antibiotic use fivefold: a before and after study.

Objectives: In 2019, informed by favourable patient and provider acceptability surveys and concerns about antimicrobial resistance, Sydney Sexual Health Centre stopped routinely providing empirical antibiotic treatment to asymptomatic contacts of (chlamydia) and (gonorrhoea). We aimed to assess if this policy change had any negative impact on patient outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective file review of people who presented as asymptomatic contacts of chlamydia and gonorrhoea cases before and after the policy change was conducted.