Transcript DRUG USE RELATED INFECTIONS PROJECT Compiled by the …

DRUG USE RELATED INFECTIONS PROJECT
Compiled by the West Virginia Chapter of the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control
INTRODUCTION: The adverse effects of illicit
drug use are many, among them damage to the
skin, internal organs, and the immune system
leading to frequent secondary infections. APICWV hopes to help discourage use of these drugs
through education of students regarding
potential disfiguring and life-threatening
infectious complications.
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Introduction
We humans have bacteria and other
microbes on all our skin surfaces; these
belong on the surface but if allowed
inside can cause infections, which can
become chronic or even kill. Any place
on the body used for injecting drugs can
become infected, including between the
toes & fingers, in the groin, and under
the tongue.
What follows are examples of skin
infections seen commonly with
intravenous drug use.
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Skin Damage
Skin infection with
tissue death
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Cellulitis, a painful
infection under the
skin
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Skin & Flesh Damage
Open sores from skin
popping and nonsterile tattooing
Gangrene, skin & tissue
death leading to
amputation
CDC Photo
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Liver Damage
Normal healthy liver
Germs introduced through
the skin can travel through
your body to other organs,
like your liver. These
pictures are a normal liver
and what can happen
because of drug use.
Your liver serves as a body
filter to protect you from
harm. A sick liver means
you stay sick and may lead
to a need for a liver
transplant.
Alcohol & drug damaged liver
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Hepatitis B and C
In addition to the drugs themselves, viral
infections transferred between users
through needle sharing or items used to
snort drugs can lead to liver damage or
liver cancer many years after the virus has
entered the body. There are parts of West
Virginia with some of the highest rates of
hepatitis C in the country.
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Heart & Lung Damage
Bacterial infection of the
heart and lungs happens to
intravenous drug users
when the drugs or other
substances used to cut or
dissolve the drugs travels
to these organs causing
damage that keeps the
heart and lungs from
operating efficiently.
It makes the person
constantly weak and
gasping for air.
Normal heart valves
Diseased heart valves
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Brain Damage
Normal brain
Drug use can change your
brain.
Your brain doesn’t fully
mature until around age
24, and drug use during
teen years will affect you
for the rest of your life,
particularly the parts
controlling your emotions
and ability to understand
and use good judgment.
(National Institutes of Health/ National
Institute on Drug Abuse photo)
Cocaine brain
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Senior Pictures
Using methamphetamine
and crack cocaine has
very ugly results, like loss
of hair and teeth.
The acids released with
crack cocaine break down
the membranes of your
lips and gums and make
blisters in your mouth. As
the blisters break down,
harmful infections of your
mouth and gums loosen
teeth and damage gums.
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More Mouth Damage
Snorting cocaine
damages the
membranes of your
nose and mouth and
can burn a hole
between your nose
and the roof of your
mouth.
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Physical Health Effects of
Methamphetamine
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Acne & open sores
Tooth decay
Hair loss
Acne & open sores
Severe weight loss
Self-inflicted
wounds from
removing
hallucinatory
"crank bugs"
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Liver damage
Kidney and lung
disorders
Putrid body odor
Convulsions or
seizures
Heart attack or
stroke
Death
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Behavioral & Mental Effects of
Methamphetamine
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Hallucinations
Aggression
Paranoia
Anxiety
Confusion
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Mood swings
Depression
Insomnia
Psychotic
behavior
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Prescription Drugs
Any drug will always
change something
in your body. Even
those needed for
medical reasons can
have serious side
effects that can
make it easier for
germs to cause an
infection.
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New Drugs
New chemicals are being
developed under a
variety of names. The
effects on mental and
physical health are not
yet known. One thing
for sure, germs are
always ready to take
advantage of any
opportunity.
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We’re Number One!
And you can die. In 2010, drug overdose & illicit drug
poisoning death rates ranged from 3.4 to 28.9 per
100,000 population. The rate for the United States
was 12.3. The five states with the highest rates were
Oklahoma (19.4), Nevada (20.7), Kentucky (23.6),
New Mexico (23.8), and West Virginia (28.9), more
than double the national rate. (CDC data, 2/12).
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To find out more about the infections
associated with drug use, go to one of the
following references, or call an Infection
Preventionist at your local hospital.
We’re here to help.
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References
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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
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www.cdc.gov/idu
www.cdc.gov/hepatitis
www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/2012/
HIV-Infections-2007-2010
www.cdc.gov/pwud/addiction.html
World Health Organization,
http://www.who.int/topics/substance_abu
se/en/
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References
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West Virginia Department of Health &
Human Services:
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http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/std-hivhep/resources/Pages/default.aspx
www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/diseases
www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/diseases/AtoZdocume
nts
www.PBS.org, WGBH, May 17, 2011, “The
Meth Epidemic”
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References
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New England Journal of
Medicine, www.nejm.org, “Bacterial
Infections in Drug Users”, authors Rachel
Gordon & Franklin Lowry, NEJM 335;18,
Nov 3, 2005
Emedicine.medscape.com
New Zealand Dermatological Society Inc,
http://dermnetnz.org, “Skin Infections in
IV Drug Users”, author Amy Stanway, Oct
10 2010
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