Bacterial and Viral Infections Among Hospitalized Injection Drug Users in Hamadan, Iran

Background: Infectious complications among Injection Drug Users (IDUs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and place an enormous burden on the healthcare system. Objectives: The present study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of infectious complications in a sample of IDUs admitted to a hospital in Hamadan, Iran. Patients and Methods: In a retrospective manner, medical records of IDUs admitted to an infectious diseases ward between ۲۰۰۷ and ۲۰۱۲ were reviewed. Data on patients’ demographic characteristics, reasons for admission, antibiotic treatment prior to admission, duration of hospital stay, mortality, and also the status of infection with hepatitis B, C, and HIV were recorded. Results: Data for ۱۰۰ IDUs lead to ۱۱۵ admission episodes were available during the study. Bacterial infections accounted for ۷۱% of all admissions. Among bacterial infections, skin and soft tissue infections, endocarditis, bone and joined infections emerged as the most common types. For ۲۹% of cases, the reason for admission was due to viral pathogens, among which HIV/AIDS was the most common. The prevalence rates for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection were ۱۰.۰%, ۶.۰% and ۲۳.۰%, respectively. The mean duration of hospital stay was ۱۵.۱ ± ۰.۹ days (range: ۸ - ۴۵ days). During the study period, ۱۳ deaths were documented. Conclusions: Despite implementation of community-level harm reduction strategies in Iran, infectious complications due to illicit drug use are frequent and often require care at the hospital. Introducing harm reductions services at an inpatient level may improve the quality of care provided and help reduce the burden of accrue from drug use.