Determinants of hospitalization for a cutaneous injection-related infection among injection drug users: a cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous injection-related infections (CIRI) are a primary reason individuals who inject drugs (IDU) are hospitalized. The objective of this study was to investigate determinants of hospitalization for a CIRI or related infectious complication among a cohort of supervised injection facility (SIF) users.


METHODS
From 1 January 1 2004 until 31 January 2008, using Cox proportional hazard regression, we examined determinants of hospitalization for a CIRI or related infectious complication (based on ICD 10 codes) among 1083 IDU recruited from within the SIF. Length of stay in hospital and cost estimates, based on a fully-allocated costing model, was also evaluated.


RESULTS
Among hospital admissions, 49% were due to a CIRI or related infectious complication. The incidence density for hospitalization for a CIRI or related infectious complication was 6.07 per 100 person-years (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 4.96 - 7.36). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazard model, being HIV positive (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.79 [95% CI: 1.17 - 2.76]) and being referred to the hospital by a nurse at the SIF (AHR = 5.49 [95% CI: 3.48 - 8.67]) were associated with increased hospitalization. Length of stay in hospital was significantly shorter among participants referred to the hospital by a nurse at the SIF when compared to those who were not referred (4 days [interquartile range {IQR}: 2-7] versus 12 days [IQR: 5-33]) even after adjustment for confounders (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
A strong predictor of hospitalization for a CIRI or related infectious complication was being referred to the hospital by a nurse from the SIF. This finding indicates that nurses not only facilitate hospital utilization but may provide early intervention that prevents lengthy and expensive hospital visits for a CIRI or related infectious complication.
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Providence Health Care, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
Elisa
E
Lloyd-Smith
Evan
E
Wood
Ruth
R
Zhang
Mark W
MW
Tyndall
Sam
S
Sheps
Julio S G
JS
Montaner
Thomas
T
Kerr
D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*