DPH presents DoxyPEP results and launches coordinated overdose-response initiative

Director of Public Health Dr. Grant Colfax reported a late-breaking abstract presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections showing promising local results after DPH recommended DoxyPEP for certain populations.

Colfax said DPH's population-health team modeled STI rates and found significant reductions—about 50% in chlamydia and early syphilis—compared with projections of what would have occurred without DoxyPEP adoption. The city was an early adopter of DoxyPEP for targeted populations including men who have sex with men and some transgender women; Colfax said the department rapidly analyzed the impact and presented findings at the national conference.

The director also announced a Coordinated Overdose Response and Engagement (CORE) initiative led by behavioral health with a goal of flattening and ultimately reducing overdose deaths. CORE will coordinate resources across DPH and the mayor's office and integrate with the POET (post-overdose engagement team) effort to follow up with people discharged after an overdose and link them to treatment.

Commissioners asked for more details on DoxyPEP uptake across local health systems. Colfax said he would request specifics from clinical leads (Dr. Philip) about deployment across systems such as Kaiser and UCSF. Commissioners also requested future briefings on CORE and POET so the full commission can track implementation and outcomes.