[Infections and other causes of mortality correlated with drug addiction]

Drug use and related injection practices determine an excess mortality in drug abusers compared to the general population adjusted for age and gender. HIV/AIDS and overdose are the most important causes of death among injecting drug users; however, excess mortality is also due to other causes, such as cirrhosis and endocarditis. Infections have a great impact on the health of injection drug users. Viral infections, such as HIV, HCV, and HBV, are the most important ones, but bacterial and fungal infections, and, to a lesser extent, protozoal infections, are also common. In depth knowledge of drug-related morbidity and mortality causes is important to improve clinical skills and to implement control activities.