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During 2000–2010 in United States, reported syphilis rates increased from 2.1 to 4.5/100,000 population, attributed to men who have sex with men (MSM) transmission, accounting for 67% of reported cases. MSM anonymous partner-finding often involves using Grindr, © a mobile device location-based social networking tool. Disease intervention specialists (DIS) use traditional investigations (named contact interviews) but often cannot identify anonymous partners. To augment investigations, on April 15, 2012, Kansas DIS began using Grindr in addition to traditional methods. We evaluated the enhanced MSM syphilis contact identification and management.
METHODS:
We reviewed all reported MSM-syphilis cases for October 1, 2010–October 31, 2012. After April 15, 2012 (enhanced case-finding period), DIS identified anonymous contacts by using Grindr user-identification on a mobile device. We compared the proportion of social and sexual partners successfully contacted and treated per MSM-syphilis case during enhanced case-finding period to those identified prior to that date.
RESULTS:
Of the 129 MSM–syphilis cases, 42 (32.6%) were reported during enhanced case-finding period. Per MSM–syphilis case, the number of social partners contacted during enhanced case-finding (median: 6.5; range: 0–57) was higher than prior time-period (median: 1.0; range: 0–25; P <0.001) and not different by median number of sexual partners contacted. Compared with MSM–syphilis cases investigated prior to April 15, 2012, the proportion of sexual partners (24.3% versus 44.5%) and social partners (3.9% versus 16.3%) successfully treated was higher among MSM in the enhanced case-finding period (P <0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
The number of sexual and social partners successfully contacted and treated increased by using the Grindr social network. Health departments should consider using social networking tools to enhance MSM-syphilis investigations.