Infections in people who inject drugs on the acute medical take

Abstract

People who inject drugs are disproportionately affected by acute/chronic bacterial and viral infections that are a cause of significant morbidity. Clinical presentations to the acute medical take vary from skin and soft tissue infections to complications of bacteraemias, and can be challenging with difficulties in adherence, pain management, early self-discharges and loss to follow-up. This review summarises the most recent UK epidemiology of injecting drug use and infection as well as clinical presentation and management.