National Quality Forum #: None
Description: Percentage of patients1 with a diagnosis of HIV at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) who had a test for gonorrhea within the measurement year
Numerator: Number of patients with a diagnosis of HIV who had a test for gonorrhea
Denominator: Number of patients with a diagnosis of HIV who meet both criteria:
- Were either: a) newly enrolled in care; b) sexually active; or c) had an STI within the last 12 months
- Had a medical visit with a provider with prescribing privileges2 at least once in the measurement year
Patient Exclusions: Patients who were ≤18 years old3 and denied a history of sexual activity
Data Elements:
- Does the patient have a diagnosis of HIV? (Y/N)
- If yes, is the patient new to care, sexually active or had an STI within the last 12 months? (Y/N)
- If yes, was the patient tested for gonorrhea during the measurement year? (Y/N)
- If yes, is the patient new to care, sexually active or had an STI within the last 12 months? (Y/N)
***Consider analyzing data for disparities among youth, men who have sex with men, and uninsured patients.
National goals, target, or benchmarks for comparison
This HIV/AIDS Bureau measure aligns with the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States (2021-2025) Core Indicator 4: Reduce gonorrhea rate by 2% by 2025 and 10% by 2030.
The HIV Quality Measures (HIVQM) Module is a tool within the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Services Report portal. It allows recipients to enter aggregate data specific to HRSA HAB Performance Measures. The HIVQM Module allows recipients to conduct point-in-time benchmarking across Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs that use the module.
Department of Health and Human Services Clinical Practice Guidelines
"All pregnant women aged <25 years as well as women aged ≥25 years at increased risk for gonorrhea (e.g., those with other STIs during pregnancy or those with a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, or a sex partner who has an STI or is exchanging sex for money or drugs) should be screened for Neisseria gonorrhoeae at the first prenatal visit (149). Pregnant women who remain at high risk for gonococcal infection also should be retested during the third trimester to prevent maternal postnatal complications and gonococcal infection in the neonate. Clinicians should consider the communities they serve and might choose to consult local public health authorities for guidance on identifying groups that are more vulnerable to gonorrhea acquisition on the basis of local disease prevalence. Gonococcal infection, in particular, is concentrated among specific geographic locations and communities. Pregnant women identified as having gonorrhea should be treated immediately. All persons diagnosed with gonorrhea should be rescreened 3 months after treatment."4
Use in other federal programs
This measure is linked to an exact or similar indicator(s) within Healthy People 2030, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022-2025), and the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States (2021-2025).
References/notes
1 "Patients" include all clients aged 13 years and older.
2 A "provider with prescribing privileges" is a health care professional certified in his/her jurisdiction to prescribe medications.
3 Onset of sexual activity is not reliably reported or recorded. The lower age bracket of 18 years is selected for performance measurement purposes only and should not be interpreted as a recommendation about the age at which screening should begin to occur.
4 Workowski, KA, Bachmann, LH, Chan, PA, Johnston CM, Muzny, CA, Park, I, Reno, H, Zenilman, JA, & Bolan, GA. "Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021." MMWR Recomm Rep 2021; 70(No. RR-4): 12. Available online. Accessed January 2022.