title: The role of syringe filters in harm reduction among injection drug users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Three filters were tested for in situ efficacy in reducing bacterial contamination associated with injection drug use.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a self-matched control design with blinded laboratory testing, injection drug users were asked to use 3 filters in random succession when loading their syringes with drug solute.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 0.22-micron filter proved significantly better than both the cigarette filter (relative risk [RR] = 18.0) and the 20-micron filter (RR = 4.5) in rendering syringes bacteria-free.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 15- to 20-micron syringe filter currently provided injection drug users in Switzerland does not significantly reduce contamination associated with common bacterial infections among users. Filters with pore width 1/100th as large are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric University Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caflisch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zbinden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013557:Switzerland; D013594:Syringes / Q000382:microbiology*