While people injecting drugs has decreased in Australia, infections are on the rise

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-11-24 03:00

Australia; VIC

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While there are fewer people who inject drugs in Australia now than 18 years ago, there has been an increase in the number of people who inject drugs acquiring acute infections, according to Australian researchers. Injecting drug use is associated with acute infection risk such as skin and soft tissue infections, endocarditis, bone, joint and blood infections. The researchers reviewed existing studies on the prevalence of infections in this group, and found evidence infections are increasing despite reductions in hepatitis C and the efforts of needle and syringe programs. They say establishing wound clinics based within services already used by people who inject drugs could help reduce the health impact by treating infections before they become more serious.