A Cross-Sectional Observational Study on Retained Drug Needle Fragments in People Who Use Intravenous Drugs

In addition to the well-known toxicological harms of intravenous drug (IVD) use, there can also be local tissue complications, including infections, venous sclerosis, tissue necrosis, and drug needle fragment retentions. Drug needle fragments in subcutaneous tissue may cause local symptoms (usually pain and infections), but they have also been identified as causing emboli to organs. The literature has described numerous case reports of people who inject drugs (PWIDs) and have retained needle fragments. The prevalence of the condition is not known, and the researchers therefore aim to perform the first cross-sectional study of PWIDs to estimate how common needle fragment retentions are and what their risk factors are in this population.

Inclusion Criteria:History of intravenous drug useCurrent treatment of the drug abuse problem at a local low-threshold drug abuse service unit or primary health care centre.Adherence to fill in the questionnaireParticipation to X-ray imaging of injection sitesExclusion Criteria:No history of intravenous drug useDoes not adhere to fill in the questionnaire or refuses X-ray imagingPregnancyUnderage (18 years old)