Views and experiences of injection site infections among PWID (Ver 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of the views and experiences of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and awareness of spore forming bacteria (SFB) infections among people who inject drugs (PWID): A qualitative study
IRAS ID
178030
Contact name
Karen Dunleavy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of Scotland
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 0 days
Research summary
Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), which are caused by a range of bacteria including spore forming bacteria (SFB), are a common problem experienced by people who inject drugs (PWID). Infections range in severity from mild, superficial infections to life threatening conditions. Common signs of infection include abscesses or cellulitis. PWID tend to delay seeking healthcare for SSTI resulting in presentations to A&E, in more costly emergency treatment and hospitalisation. The reasons for delay are not well described. Much of the knowledge about injection site SSTI derives primarily from medical case reports, outbreak reports, hospital records or prevalence studies. Such work cannot provide insights on PWID experiences of SSTI and healthcare seeking behaviours.
This study is an exploration of their views and experiences of injection site SSTI, healthcare seeking behaviours and harm reduction for SSTI. The findings will be used to make recommendations for the development of services to support PWID seek timely healthcare and advice about SSTI, including during any outbreaks of SFB.
Eligible participants will be those who are current injectors (defined as having injected in the past 6 months) and have had an injection site SSTI (defined as abscess, cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis) within the past year. Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Lothian Health Boards will be selected as the two health boards for recruitment as these sites have sizeable injecting populations and unpublished data reports the proportion of PWID with a SSTI in the past year as 27% and 36% respectively (unpublished UWS & HPS (2013) NESI data). A total of 25 participants will be recruited from wound clinics, drug treatment centres and needle exchanges. They will be invited to attend a voluntary, confidential and anonymous face to face, in-depth qualitative interview.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0168
Date of REC Opinion
26 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion