Predictors of skin and soft tissue infections among sample of rural residents who inject drugs
- PDF / 916,586 Bytes
- 10 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 18 Downloads / 188 Views
Open Access
RESEARCH
Predictors of skin and soft tissue infections among sample of rural residents who inject drugs Amelia Baltes1* , Wajiha Akhtar2, Jen Birstler3, Heidi Olson‑Streed4, Kellene Eagen1, David Seal5, Ryan Westergaard2 and Randall Brown1
Abstract Introduction: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for people who inject drugs (PWID). Studies demonstrate that certain injection practices correlate with SSTI incidence among PWID. The opioid epidemic in the USA has particularly affected rural communities, where access to preven‑ tion and treatment presents unique challenges. This study aims to estimate unsafe injection practices among ruraldwelling PWID; assess treatments utilized for injection related SSTIs; and gather data to help reduce the overall risk of injection-related SSTIs. Methods: Thirteen questions specific to SSTIs and injection practices were added to a larger study assessing unmet health care needs among PWID and were administered at six syringe exchange programs in rural Wisconsin between May and July 2019. SSTI history prevalence was estimated based on infections reported within one-year prior of response and was compared to self-reported demographics and injection practices. Results: Eighty responses were collected and analyzed. Respondents were white (77.5%), males (60%), between the ages 30 and 39 (42.5%), and have a high school diploma or GED (38.75%). The majority of respondents (77.5%) reported no history of SSTI within the year prior to survey response. Females were over three times more likely to report SSTI history (OR = 3.07, p = 0.038) compared to males. Water sources for drug dilution (p = 0.093) and frequency of injecting on first attempt (p = 0.037), but not proper skin cleaning method (p = 0.378), were significantly associated with a history of SSTI. Injecting into skin (p = 0.038) or muscle (p = 0.001) was significantly associated with a history of SSTI. Injection into veins was not significantly associated with SSTI (p = 0.333). Conclusion: Higher-risk injection practices were common among participants reporting a history of SSTIs in this rural sample. Studies exploring socio-demographic factors influencing risky injection practices and general barriers to safer injection practices to prevent SSTIs are warranted. Dissemination of education materials targeting SSTI prevention and intervention among PWID not in treatment is warranted. Keywords: Skin and soft tissue infections, People who inject drugs, Heroin, Opioid, Methamphetamine, Injection drug use, Public health
*Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Background Rates of injection drug use (IDU) have grown in parallel with the US opioid epidemic since 2000 [9, 12]. IDU is a growing public health concern given the associated risk of the transmis
Data Loading...
