To describe the infectious disease burden, specifically focusing on endocarditis, HIV, HCV, SSTIs, and osteomyelitis, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) uptake, and healthcare utilization in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving addiction psychiatry consultation at a southern county hospital.
Key Findings:
Increased rates of infections such as endocarditis, HIV, HCV, SSTIs, and osteomyelitis among people who inject drugs (PWID) highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions.
Hospitalization serves as a critical opportunity for initiating MOUD in PWID, potentially improving long-term health outcomes.
Regional differences in drug markets and healthcare access significantly impact the prevalence of IDU-associated infections, necessitating tailored public health strategies.
Interpretation:
The opioid epidemic significantly contributes to infectious disease complications among PWID, necessitating integrated care approaches that include both infectious disease management and OUD treatment to improve patient outcomes.
Limitations:
Study conducted at a single urban safety-net hospital, limiting generalizability to other settings.
Retrospective design may introduce biases in patient selection and data interpretation, affecting the reliability of findings.
Conclusion:
Addressing the infectious disease burden in PWID through comprehensive care and MOUD uptake during hospitalization is essential for improving health outcomes and reducing the impact of the opioid epidemic.
