Nationwide increase in the number of hospitalizations for illicit injection drug use-related infective endocarditis
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.
Full citation:
Cooper HL, Brady JE, Ciccarone D, Tempalski B, Gostnell K, Friedman SR (2007). Nationwide increase in the number of hospitalizations for illicit injection drug use-related infective endocarditis
Clinical Infectious Diseases, 45 (9), 1200-1203. doi: 10.1086/522176. PMCID: PMC2567828.