Drug preparation, injection-related infections, and harm reduction practices among a national sample of individuals entering treatment for opioid use disorder

Table 3 Characteristics of injection site infections and drug preparation practices among survey respondents reported using harm reduction techniques

	No harm reduction practice (n = 172)		Any harm reduction practice (n = 556)		Total (N = 728)		sig. (χ²)
Non-sterile drug preparation practices
Reused needles	88	51.2%	437	78.6%	525	72.1%	< .001
Reused needles you previously used to drain or treat an infection	9	5.2%	63	11.3%	72	9.9%	0.019
Shared needles with someone else who might have had a fever or was sick	16	9.3%	115	20.7%	131	18.0%	< .001
Shared needles with other individuals	59	34.3%	287	51.6%	346	47.5%	< .001
Used saliva to lubricate a dull needle	20	11.6%	134	24.1%	154	21.2%	< .001
Used lemon or other acidic fruit juice to prepare drugs for injection	19	11.0%	151	27.2%	170	23.4%	< .001
Infections arising from injection drug use
Skin redness (cellulitis) at injection site	51	29.7%	307	55.2%	358	49.2%	< .001
An abscess or boil at injection site	58	33.7%	248	44.6%	306	42.0%	0.012
An open wound at injection site	17	9.9%	99	17.8%	116	15.9%	0.013
A bloodstream infection or sepsis	6	3.5%	68	12.2%	74	10.2%	< .001
Endocarditis (infection of the heart valve)	0	0.0%	31	5.6%	31	4.3%	0.002
None of the above	84	48.8%	155	27.9%	239	32.8%	< .001
Infection management
Drained the infection without seeking medical care	27	15.7%	184	33.1%	211	29.0%	< .001
Received medical care at a hospital or healthcare facility	42	24.4%	214	38.5%	256	35.2%	< .001
Received medical care outside of a hospital or a healthcare facility	13	7.6%	80	14.4%	93	12.8%	0.019
Purchased/received antibiotics through clinic/pharmacy/hospital	17	9.9%	150	27.0%	167	22.9%	< .001
Obtained antibiotics through other sources	24	14.0%	142	25.5%	166	22.8%	0.002

ISSN: 1477-7517