Changes in drug taking behaviour cause increase in bacterial infections, says HPA

A new HPA report suggests recent changes in drug taking behaviour have contributed to an increase in bacterial infections

Around one-third of injecting drug users have reported having an abscess, sore or open wound at sites of injection, according to a new report by the Health Protection Agency.

The HPA (2008) says recent changes in drug-taking, such as the increase in people taking crack-cocaine, have contributed to an increase in bacterial infections among drug users. Such infections may cost the NHS as much as £47m a year

Bacterial infections among this group range from localised site infections through to invasive disease, and include: Staphylococcus aureus (including community-associated MRSA); severe group A streptococci; wound botulism and tetanus. Severity can vary from minor skin infections to life-threatening bacteraemia.

The report makes several practical recommendations to prevent the spread of infections among injecting drug users (IDUs) and reduce the harm caused by these infections.