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Intravenous drug use
From WikEM
(Redirected from Injection drug use)
Contents
Background
- Complications of intravenous drug use span all organ systems (in addition to the Toxidromes related to the specific chemical used).
Complications by System
Cardiovascular
- Endocarditis
- ACS
- Aortic Dissection
- Pseudo aneurysm
Soft Tissue Infections
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Pyomyositis
- Subcutaneous abscess
Pulmonary
- PE
- Talcosis (trash lung)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pneumothorax (usually due to injecting in neck vessels)
Skeletal
- Osteomyelitis
- Diskitis
- Epidural Abscess (Spinal)
- Vertebral Osteomyelitis
- Sternal joint osteomyelitis
- DVT
Central Nervous System
- Endocarditis
- SAH - especially with sympathomimetics such as methamphetamine and cocaine
- Brain abscess
- Subdural empyema
- Botulism - especially with "skin popping" of black tar heroine
- CVA
Ocular
- Fungal endophthalmitis
- Amaurosis fugax
Hematogenous
- Sepsis
- Neutropenic Fever
- Neutropenia (esp. if using cocaine mixed with levimasole[1])
Infectious Disease
- Cotton fever
- Occurs when cotton is used to filter drugs like heroin and due to the exotoxin from Pantoea agglomerans which colonizes cotton plants[2]
- HIV related
- TB
References
- ↑ http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/6/1/30
- ↑ D. W. Harrison et al."'Cotton Fever': a benign febrile syndrome in intravenous drug abusers", Journal of Emergency Medicine, March–April 1990, pp. 135-139
