A survey of IV drug users has found much higher than expected infections from organisms such as E.coli and pseudomonas.

New Irish research shows that microbiology from acute infectious complications of injecting drug use (IDU) demonstrates relatively high rates of gram-negative micro-organisms. Such information is important for Emergency Medicine physicians and others who treat infectious complications arising from injecting drug use.

Gram-positive infections included MSSA (20 per cent), MRSA (5 per cent), CN staph aureus (7 per cent), pneumococcus (7 per cent), beta-haemolytic streptococcus (4 per cent) and enterococcus (4 per cent). Gram-negative infections included candida (13 per cent), E.coli/coliforms (11 per cent) and pseudomonas (4 per cent).

Previously-published research had pointed to predominantly gram-positive organisms in those with IDU-related infections.

The authors of this study sought to examine these issues in an inner city ED with high community prevalence of intravenous drug abuse.