The infectious complications of anabolic-androgenic steroid injection.
One million individuals in the United States alone are estimated to be current or past users of anabolic-androgenic steroids. In the United States fifty-percent of anabolic-androgenic steroid users administer their compounds intramuscularly, and twenty-five percent of adolescent anabolic-androgenic steroid users share needles, placing these young adults at risk for infections related to injection. To examine the medical literature for reports of infections attributable to anabolic-androgenic steroids, we conducted a MEDLINE (1966-1998) and AIDSLINE (1980-1998) world literature review to examine all references that attributed infections to anabolic-androgenic steroid injection. Infections associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid injection include three cases of HIV, one case of hepatitis B, one case of hepatitis C, eight abscesses, and a case of fungal endophthalmitis. No cross-sectional or prospective studies exist that document the risk of infections related to anabolic-androgenic steroid injection. These serious infectious complications of anabolic-androgenic steroid injection may be avoided with education and prevention techniques. Infections occurring in anabolic-androgenic steroid users are not as common as in intravenous drug users.
Rich
J D
JD
The Miriam Hospital and Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA. Josiah_Rich@brown.edu
Dickinson
B P
BP
Feller
A
A
Pugatch
D
D
Mylonakis
E
E
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004300:Doping in Sports; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D045930:Anabolic Agents