C. Contoreggi et al., CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS IN THE INJECTING DRUG-USER, Journal of substance abuse treatment, 15(2), 1998, pp. 95-106
The diagnosis and management of infectious complications associated wi
th injection drug use (IDU) are among some of the more challenging asp
ects of working with substance abusing populations. As the population
of injection drug users age, we expect the number and severity of thes
e complications to increase. Commonly seen infections, such as bacteri
al endocarditis and bacterial infections of bones, joints, and soft ti
ssue, are now frequently complicated by concurrent immunodeficiency. P
arenterally and sexually transmitted viral hepatitis is responsible fo
r significant IDU morbidity and mortality. The human leukemia/lymphoma
virus types I and II are increasing in prevalence in the IDU with unc
ertain long-term clinical effects. Immune dysfunction has been describ
ed in the IDU for decades, but the impact of host immune compromise on
the transmission and the course of HIV-1 has yet to be fully apprecia
ted. The integration of the treatment of substance abuse and its concu
rrent psychiatric disorders with the management of infectious complica
tions, including immunodeficiency, promises to improve patient complia
nce with possible savings of overall medical costs. Published by Elsev
ier Science Inc.