Nationwide increase in the number of hospitalizations for illicit injection drug use-related infective endocarditis

Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Nov 1;45(9):1200-3. doi: 10.1086/522176. Epub 2007 Sep 25.

Abstract

Infective endocarditis is a potentially fatal consequence of illicit injection drug use. We estimate that the number of hospitalization for injection drug use-related infective endocarditis increased by 38%-66% in the United States between 2000-2001 and 2002-2003, a period during which the number of at-risk persons (i.e., injection drug users) remained stable. Increasing methamphetamine use and/or drug injection frequency may have increased the incidence of infective endocarditis among active injection drug users.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / epidemiology*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / etiology
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications*
  • United States / epidemiology