Multidisciplinary Guidance to Care for Persons With Xylazine-Associated Wounds

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Xylazine is increasingly found in illicit opioid supplies, leading to distinctive and chronic wounds known as xylazine-associated wounds (XAWs).
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XAWs primarily occur on extremities and can develop from both injection and non-injection drug use, often leading to severe complications.
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Multidisciplinary care involving addiction medicine, wound care, and infectious diseases is essential for effective management of XAWs.
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Empirical antibiotics are recommended for treating XAWs, specifically targeting MRSA and GAS infections with appropriate oral and intravenous options.
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A proactive approach to diagnosing XAWs is crucial, including considering differential diagnoses and utilizing urine tests for xylazine detection.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

by Wei-Teng Yang, Jessica A Meisner, Christina Maguire, Kelly E Dyer, Rachel McFadden, Ashish P Thakrar, Drew T Dickinson, Deanna Berg, Ave Preston, Michael Z David, Jeanmarie Perrone, Naasha Talati, Kathleen O Degnan
May 15, 2025

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