SU & medical complications Flashcards
reasons disease is a common complication of SUD
- IV injection
- drugs have pathogens
- contamination of needles
- chronic alcohol and drug use decreases immunity
- malnutrition: an issue in SUD clients
- bacteria such as Neisseria and Streptococcus on needle surfaces
- SUD clients living in close proximity in unclean settings, increasing risk of communicable diseases such as TB
bacterial infections seen in intravenous drug abusers
- endocarditis
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Skin abscesses/Cellulitis
what is endocarditis
- When bacteria infect the valves of the heart
- Bacteria normally found on the skin
- Higher in IVDU
- Treatment with ABX
what is Necrotizing fasciitis
- Special danger to cocaine users
- An infection in which subcutaneous tissues are attacked by bacteria normally found on the surface of the skin
what bacterial infection is a special danger to cocaine users
Necrotizing fasciitis
Skin abscesses/Cellulitis
Use of dirty needles, risk of sepsis if not treated with antibiotics.
what is pneumonia
Acute infection of the lung tissue, normally caused by bacteria
fungal pneumonia
Common complication of HIV infection and of heroin abuse/addiction
aspirate pneumonia
strong relationship to alcohol use.
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)
- 20% with this condition will require hospitalization
- 45,000 die annually
- Pneumovax vaccination
- Poor living conditions
- Higher is clients with co-morbid medical conditions such as diabetes who have poor immune system
What is tuberculosis
- Not just a bacterial infection of the lungs
- Other factors:
- Intensity of exposure
- Poor health
- Malnutrition
- SUD
How is tuberculosis transmitted, and how does it kill?
- TB kills by invading the pulmonary system and can also infect virtually every organ in the body
- transmitted through droplets via sneezing/coughing
- bacteria can be dormant or become active if immune system low.
- Clients entering treatments centers for SUD need medical clearance for TB
symptoms of TB
- productive coughing (mucous, blood)
- dry cough
- poor appetite
- GI symptoms
- SOB,
- chest pain
- flushed face,
- chronic fever
- night swears
- weight loss
- weakness
treatment of TB
- Regimens can take as long as 12-24 months
- Lifestyle of typical alcohol/drug abusers often makes treatment compliance for TB very difficult
- Almost 20% of those with Tb also had SUD
- Remains potentially fatal
- Mantoux test- Skin test to assess if exposed to TB
- X-ray and sputum tests to confirm Dx
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- a constellation of symptoms, most important of which is the destruction of the individual’s immune system
- HIV destroys CD4 cells of immune system
- Person can remain asymptomatic before opportunistic infections appear.