Drug preparation, injection-related infections, and harm reduction practices among a national sample of individuals entering treatment for opioid use disorder Full Text

The level of precision of this definition for any given study will depend on the study’s purpose. To study the transmission of HIV infection, for example, researchers will need to estimate seroprevalence for IV drug users classified by frequency of injection, how long they have been injecting, whether they share needles and with whom, as well as other relevant dimensions of drug use. A basic problem in constructing estimates of drug use is the difficulty of defining the term IV drug user. Indeed, during their drug-use careers, individuals may move through phases of regular and intermittent use (Simpson et al., 1986). However, all phases that involve needle-sharing carry some level of risk (albeit a variable one) of contracting HIV infection.

• Techniques that have been tried in other areas (e.g., varying the setting of the interview or asking the respondent to record sensitive information without being observed by the interviewer) deserve further investigation.
• Cotton shots, when not shared, are perceived by participants as a safe last resort source for drugs, unaware that warm, moist environments facilitate bacterial growth.
• For these women, asking a man to use a condom provokes the fear of breaching relations that may fulfill the woman’s sexual, personal, financial, and drug needs.

SSTIs have a wide variety of manifestations ranging from cellulitis to necrotizing fasciitis and can even resemble a vasculitis. The diagnosis of SSTIs is made by physical examination, and ultrasound can aid when the examination is equivocal for fluid collections. Gram positives and common commensal organisms of the oral cavity are frequently identified. Bone and joint infections are also frequently polymicrobial with a similar microbiologic pattern as SSTIs, and a higher prevalence of gram-negative and fungal pathogens. Novel long-acting and oral antibiotic formulations have shown promising results particularly when barriers to compliance are identified. PWID contacting the health care system should always be offered treatment for substance use disorder, counseling regarding high-risk injection practices, as well as appropriate screening, vaccines, and information surrounding harm reduction tools.

Bacterial Infections Infectious Diseases

It is recommended the VZV reactivation is treated with valacyclovir or IV acyclovir (level III), as per standard treatment guidelines; [17] however, different agents may be used if following local guidelines (level III). We recommend that RRMM patients are vaccinated against VZV (level IIC); there are currently no clear data on stopping anti-viral prophylaxis following vaccination. Some of the risk factors warrant consideration for specific prophylactic approaches prior to initiation of BsAb treatment, based on data from other therapeutic classes. Seven experts convened at the International Myeloma Workshop in Los Angeles, CA on 24th August 2022 to review the literature results. In addition, a survey was constructed prior to the workshop for discussion at the meeting to gain insight and ascertain the level of agreement regarding the panel’s recommendations for the treatment and management of these patients.

Cellulitis is a type of infection that affects the skin and the tissue underneath. Group A streptococcal bacteria causes most cases of cellulitis in the general population. However, people who inject IV drugs are also at risk of cellulitis from other bacteria and even fungi.

Conducting Research On Iv Drug Use

Future work should aim to validate our proposed theory with larger samples and increased diversity within the participants. Filter/cotton use was widespread among participants although some reported injecting without a filter at times. Injection risk behaviors and participants’ perception of these risks with respect to SBI were highlighted during the interviews with resultant emergence of themes.

Other services, such as prompt wound care, laundry, and showers could also help prevent serious bacterial and fungal infections (8). Medication-assisted treatment addresses the underlying opioid use disorder through decreased cravings and prevents infections by reducing injection drug use. Initiating medication-assisted treatment when persons who inject opioids are found to have a bacterial or fungal infection might also improve retention of these patients in treatment for both the infection and substance abuse (10). Hospitalizations and ED visits for these infections are opportunities to link patients to treatment for opioid use disorder and prevent recurrent infections. Structural factors and injection drug use networks directly impact drug use, injection drug use practices, and harm reduction knowledge, ultimately resulting in tissue damage and inoculation of bacteria into the host and subsequent development of SBI. Despite perceived safe injection practices among PWID, limited practice of these behaviors and knowledge deficit on how to reduce their risk of drug-injection-related SBI was common.

Study in mice finds a trigger for devastating condition, hints at possible treatment

However, there may be variation by geographic area that will continue to limit the capacity to generalize these findings beyond the local population. Decontamination—by bleach, alcohol, liquid dish detergent, or hydrogen peroxide—is more likely to iv drug use be effective if the syringe is flushed to at least the highest level reached by the infected user’s injection. Bleach, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide have been shown to inactivate the virus in vitro (Resnick et al., 1986; Flynn et al., 1988b).

Of the 464 admissions, 232 (50%) were admitted for suspected or known infection(s). Positive microbiology cultures were obtained from 143 (62%) of those with suspected or known infections. The major body systems affected were the cutaneous (43.4%), the respiratory tract (21.7%) and the circulatory system (19.6%). While IV antibiotics are still considered the standard of care for invasive infections, the study’s findings suggest that people who do not want to stay in the hospital for weeks should be given the option of taking oral antibiotics at home, even if they most likely became infected by injecting drugs. Only responses with paired pre- and postpresentation data from respondents who completed the entire training were included in the data analysis. The aim of the initial analysis was to describe characteristics of presentation respondents, including their professional roles, prior training in harm reduction, and prior experience referring patients to an SSP.