title: The extent of injection site infection in injecting drug users: findings from a national surveillance study.
abstract: Injection site infections in injecting drug users (IDUs) are associated with serious morbidity and healthcare costs. Factors associated with symptoms of these were examined through annual (2006-2008) unlinked-anonymous survey of IDUs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Overall 36% (1863/5209) self-reported having a symptom with no trend over time (35% 2006, 37% 2007, 34% 2008). Symptoms were less common in the North East of England; increased with years injecting; and were higher in women, those recently homeless, those recently using a needle exchange, and those injecting both opiates and stimulants. Of those injecting during the previous 4 weeks (n=3733) symptoms were associated with: injecting daily; injecting >or=10 times a day; injecting into hands, groin, or legs; sharing filters; and reusing water to flush syringes. Symptoms of injection site infections are common in IDUs. Better-targeted preventive interventions are needed, and continued surveillance should assist with assessing the impact of new initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, London, UK. vivian.hope@hpa.org.uk
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marongiu
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ncube
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult