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Concept
Contact tracing
Summary
In public health, contact tracing is the process of identifying persons who may have been exposed to an infected person ("contacts") and subsequent collection of further data to assess transmission. By tracing the contacts of infected individuals, testing them for infection, and isolating or treating the infected, this public health tool aims to reduce infections in the population. In addition to infection control, contact tracing serves as a means to identify high-risk and medically vulnerable populations who might be exposed to infection and facilitate appropriate medical care. In doing so, public health officials utilize contact tracing to conduct disease surveillance and prevent outbreaks. In cases of diseases of uncertain infectious potential, contact tracing is also sometimes performed to learn about disease characteristics, including infectiousness. Contact tracing is not always the most efficient method of addressing infectious disease. In areas of high disease prevalence, screening or focused testing may be more cost-effective.
The goals of contact tracing include:
Interrupting ongoing transmission and reduce the spread of an infection
Alerting contacts to the possibility of infection and offer preventive services or prophylactic care
Offering diagnosis, counseling and treatment to already infected individuals
If the infection is treatable, helping prevent reinfection of the originally infected patient
Learning about the epidemiology of a disease in a particular population
Being a tool in multifaceted prevention strategy to effectively curb the spread of an infectious disease.
Contact tracing programs were first implemented to track syphilis cases in the 1930s. Initial efforts proved to be difficult given the stigmatization associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Individuals were reluctant to report infections because they were concerned for their privacy. Revealing partner history and details about sexual activity was challenging as it affected relationships among individuals and community members.
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