(P137) THE ROLE OF PARTNER SERVICES IN HIV CLUSTER DETECTION AND RESPONSE: OUTCOMES, SUCCESSES, AND CHALLENGES

Background:
Partner services (PS) plays an important role in HIV cluster detection and response (CDR). Health department (HD) staff conducting PS are uniquely positioned to support cluster investigation and response by connecting cluster members and network members (partners) to HIV care, preexposure prophylaxis, and HIV and STI testing. We described CDR-related PS outcomes and highlighted relevant successes and challenges.

Methods:
We explored data reported to CDC by CDC-funded HDs in 2023 using a mixed-methods approach. We examined key PS outcomes, including testing outcomes, from closeout cluster report forms (CRFs), through which HDs report CDR activities.  We used inductive coding to identify common PS-related themes, successes, and challenges in HD programmatic documents submitted to CDC.

Results:
In 2023, 25 HDs submitted closeout CRFs for 87 clusters, which included 2,132 cluster members and 466 network members initiated for PS. Of 232 network members tested for HIV, 7.8% tested positive. Among the 234 network members not tested, 33.8% were not located, 21.8% had previously tested positive, 18.4% were not tested for other reasons, 15.8% refused testing, 6.4% were located outside of the jurisdiction, 2.1% had unknown outcomes, and 1.7% were deceased.

Among the 60 CDC-funded HDs, common reported successes included ensuring cluster and network members were interviewed and referred to appropriate services, conducting enhanced PS (e.g., expanding interview questions to identify gaps in services), and training PS staff on CDR. Common PS-related challenges included competing priorities for staff, insufficient PS staffing, and unsuccessful partner elicitation.

Conclusion:
These results highlight that CDR PS can identify new HIV infections and provide access to services among cluster and network members. While staffing is an ongoing challenge, PS plays an essential role in addressing the needs of communities affected by rapid HIV transmission. Addressing these needs can include providing testing and treatment for other STIs.