Partner notification for persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: use of a syphilis model service.

Background: Adults with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are usually the source of infection for persons who acquire sexually transmitted HBV infection. Vaccinating sex- and needle-sharing partners is recommended. Goal: To evaluate the usefulness of a syphilis model partner notification (PN) service for high-risk persons with chronic HBV infection. Study Design: Locatable partners were offered serologic testing and HBV vaccination. Results: Of 190 eligible case patients, 129 (68%) were interviewed, which included 47 men who have sex with men (MSM), 26 who reported injecting drug use (IDU), and 12 who were MSM and injected drugs. Among the 129 interviewed, 85 (66%) reported having >= 1 recent sex partner, 46 (36%) provided locating information for 47 partners, 38 partners accepted PN services, 15 were not immune, and 14 (7% of total eligible case patients) started and 9 completed the HBV vaccine series. Overall, 15% of case patients were also hepatitis C positive, and 29% were HIV infected. PN services cost was estimated at $1472 per vaccinee. Conclusion: High-risk persons with chronic HBV infection provided few names or locating information for their partners, and the proportion eligible for vaccination was low. An integrated approach that provides hepatitis C screening, human immunodeficiency virus testing, and referral might be more useful and should be evaluated.