Case and partnership reproduction numbers for a curable sexually transmitted infection

Heijne, Janneke C. M.; Herzog, Sereina A.; Althaus, Christian L.; Low, Nicola; Kretzschmar, Mirjam (2013). Case and partnership reproduction numbers for a curable sexually transmitted infection. JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY, 331, pp. 38-47. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.04.010

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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are, by definition, transmitted between sexual partners. For curable STIs an infected index case can potentially re-infect the same partner multiple times. Thus, R0, the average number of secondary infections one typical infected individual will produce during his or her infectious period is not necessarily the same as the average number of secondary cases (infected persons). Here we introduce the new concept of the case reproduction number (Rc). In addition, we define the partnership reproduction number (Rp) as the average number of secondary partnerships consisting of two infected individuals one typical infected individual will produce over his or her infectious lifetime. Rp takes into account clearance and re-infection within partnerships, which results in a prolongation of the duration of the infectious period. The two new reproduction numbers were derived for a deterministic pair model with serial monogamous partnerships using infection parameters for Chlamydia trachomatis, an example of a curable STI. We showed that re-infection within partnerships means that curable STIs can be sustained endemically even when the average number of secondary cases a person produces during his or her infectious period is below one.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

UniBE Contributor:

Min, Johanna, Herzog, Sereina, Althaus, Christian, Low, Nicola

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

0022-5193

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Doris Kopp Heim

Date Deposited:

25 Feb 2014 09:23

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:24

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.04.010

PubMed ID:

23608632

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.41855

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/41855

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