TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with recent symptoms of an injection site infection or injury among people who inject drugs in three English cities
AU - Hope, V. D.
AU - Hickman, M.
AU - Parry, J. V.
AU - Ncube, F.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at risk of injection site infections and injuries. The factors associated with recent symptoms of these problems are examined. Method: PWID recruited using respondent driven sampling, underwent a computer-assisted interview and provided a dried-blood spot sample. Weight data were examined using logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the 855 participants was 32 years, and 25% were women. During the preceding 28 days, 94% had injected heroin and 50% crack-cocaine; with 41% injecting into their arms and 47% their groin. The passing on of used needles/syringes was reported by 9.7% and receiving by 8.0%. During the preceding 28 days, 21% reported having redness, swelling and tenderness, 6.1% an abscess, and 5.2% a sore/open wound at an injection site; with a quarter (24%) reporting one or more of these. A range of factors were associated with these symptoms; all three symptoms were associated with more frequent injection and the use of multiple injection sites; two of the symptoms were also associated with having recently overdosed and the use of particular injection sites. Conclusions: Injection site infections and injuries are common among PWID and targeted interventions are needed to reduce risk.
AB - Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at risk of injection site infections and injuries. The factors associated with recent symptoms of these problems are examined. Method: PWID recruited using respondent driven sampling, underwent a computer-assisted interview and provided a dried-blood spot sample. Weight data were examined using logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the 855 participants was 32 years, and 25% were women. During the preceding 28 days, 94% had injected heroin and 50% crack-cocaine; with 41% injecting into their arms and 47% their groin. The passing on of used needles/syringes was reported by 9.7% and receiving by 8.0%. During the preceding 28 days, 21% reported having redness, swelling and tenderness, 6.1% an abscess, and 5.2% a sore/open wound at an injection site; with a quarter (24%) reporting one or more of these. A range of factors were associated with these symptoms; all three symptoms were associated with more frequent injection and the use of multiple injection sites; two of the symptoms were also associated with having recently overdosed and the use of particular injection sites. Conclusions: Injection site infections and injuries are common among PWID and targeted interventions are needed to reduce risk.
KW - England
KW - Injection site infections and injuries
KW - People who inject drugs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896076756&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.11.012
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.11.012
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 24388664
AN - SCOPUS:84896076756
VL - 25
SP - 303
EP - 307
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
SN - 0955-3959
IS - 2
ER -