Complications from Infectious Diseases Related to Opioid Use Disorder: A Retrospective Analysis at a Southern County Hospital
By
Harini Balakrishnan
Nicholas Campalans
Kapila Marambage
Joan Reisch
Ank E. Nijhawan
January 17, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Complications from Infectious Diseases Related to Opioid Use Disorder: A Retrospective Analysis at a Southern County Hospital
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) with associated infectious diseases Key Mechanisms Increased rates of infections such as endocarditis, HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, SSTIs, and osteomyelitis among people who inject drugs (PWID) Target Population Adults aged 18 and older with Opioid Use Disorder, particularly those who inject drugs Care Setting Inpatient care at a safety-net hospital
Key Highlights
Significant morbidity and hospitalization rates among PWID due to infectious diseases Hospitalization serves as a critical opportunity for initiating addiction treatment Multidisciplinary models improve uptake of medication for OUD (MOUD) Regional differences impact the prevalence and type of IDU-associated infections Barriers to care include lack of insurance and limited access to harm reduction services Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize ICD-10 codes for identifying Opioid Use Disorder and associated infections Management
Implement addiction psychiatry consultations for hospitalized patients with OUD Provide comprehensive medical care addressing both infectious diseases and OUD Monitoring & Follow-up
Track rates of MOUD uptake and hospital readmissions post-discharge Risks
Increased risk of recurrent infections and complications due to sub-optimal treatment Patient & Prescribing Data
Adults with Opioid Use Disorder receiving inpatient care
Higher rates of MOUD uptake observed with addiction medicine consultations
Clinical Best Practices
Integrate addiction treatment into inpatient care for PWID Utilize peer navigators and social workers to support recovery during hospitalization Address barriers to care, including insurance and access to harm reduction services References
