High prevalence of abscesses and cellulitis among community-recruited injection drug users in San Francisco

The prevalence of and risk factors for abscesses and cellulitis were invest igated among a community sample of injection drug users (IDUs). Participant s were interviewed, and those with symptoms were examined. Of 169 IDUs, 54 (32%) had abscesses (n = 35), cellulitis (n 5), or both (n = 14); 27% had l anced their own abscesses; and 16% had self-treated with antibiotics they p urchased on the street. IDUs who skin-popped (injected subcutaneously or in tramuscularly) were more likely to have an abscess or cellulitis than those who had injected only intravenously (odds ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence inter val, 2.2-11), The likelihood of abscesses and cellulitis increased with fre quency of skin-popping and decreased with increasing duration of injection drug use. Abscesses are extremely prevalent among IDUs in San Francisco. Sk in-popping is a major risk factor, and self-treatment is common.