title: Correlates of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Injection Drug Users in a Syringe-Exchange Program in Malmö, Sweden.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injection drug users (IDUs) are at increased risk of various medical conditions, including bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). SSTIs, which are painful and can lead to life-threatening complications, are common but scarcely studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate life time, past 12 month and past 30-day prevalence for SSTI related to injection drug use, in IDUs at Malmö syringe exchange program (Malmö SEP). To investigate factors associated with having ever had an SSTI.
  
  
  METHODS
  IDUs were recruited from Malmö SEP (N = 80). They participated in a survey with questions about demographics, drug use, and experience of SSTIs. Factors independently associated with self-reported SSTI ever were assessed using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lifetime reported prevalence of SSTI was 58%, past 12 months 30%, and past 30 days 14%. Factors independently associated with SSTI ever were age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-1.18), female sex (AOR = 6.75; 95% CI = 1.40-32.47), having ever injected prescribed drugs (AOR = 52.15; 95% CI = 5.17-525.67), and having ever injected in the neck (AOR = 8.08; 95% CI = 1.16-56.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSTI is common among IDUs in Malmö. Women and those injecting in the neck or injecting prescribed drugs (crushed tablets/liquids), are more likely to have had an SSTI.
authors.affiliation: a Malmo Addiction Center , Psychiatry Skane , Malmo , Sweden.
authors.forename: Disa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dahlman
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Sciences , Lund University , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.affiliation: c Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Sciences , Lund University , Malmo , Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Björkman
authors.affiliation: c Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Sciences , Lund University , Malmo , Sweden.
authors.forename: Marianne Alanko
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Blomé
authors.affiliation: d RTI International , San Francisco , California , USA.
authors.forename: Alex H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002047:Buprenorphine; D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone; D008774:Methylphenidate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D008774:Methylphenidate; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone
keywords: abscess; injection drug use; risk injection; skin and soft tissue infection; syringe exchange