Predictors of bacterial infections among HCV-negative injection drug users in Rhode Island

The prevalence and risk factors for treated bacterial infections (i.e., skin abscess or cellulitis, osteomyelitis, or endocarditis) were investigated among a community sample of drug users with a history of injection drug use (IDU) who tested negative for Hepatitis C (HCV). Participants were IDUs in an HCV reduction intervention trial followed for 24 months. Among 109 participants, 9.2% reported a bacterial infection during follow-up. Non-Caucasian participants and those who had injected for longer periods at baseline were less likely to experience a bacterial infection at follow-up. IDUs with no history of HCV infection experience bacterial infections, but at lower rates than other IDU cohorts. Behavioral interventions should target bacterial infections as well as HCV or HIV prevention outcomes.