What are the risk factors for soft tissue abscess development among injecting drug users?

Background: Much research has been done on the risk taking behaviour of drug users who inject. Cutaneous or subcutaneous skin and soft tissue abscesses are common complications of intravenous drug use.

Aim: To identify the risk factors to which drug users who inject expose themselves, in an attempt to improve initial assessment.

Method: A convenience sampling method was used, and structured interviews carried out with 70 injecting drug users attending a methadone treatment setting in Dublin.

Results And Discussion: Forty eight (69%) of participants have had an abscess at some stage. Poor levels of skin cleansing were identified as a main cause, and 80% admitted to sharing injecting equipment.

Conclusion: Healthcare professionals need to develop better strategies for delivering messages to clients regarding safer injecting behaviour.