Injection disease isn't a single, specific illness. The term refers to infections or other health problems that can arise from unsafe injection practices or complications from injections themselves. These issues are primarily associated with drug injections but can also occur with medical injections if proper safety protocols aren't followed.
Types of Infections from Unsafe Injections
The most common infections transmitted through unsafe injection practices are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. Other potential complications include:
- Abscesses: Pus-filled pockets of infection at the injection site.
- Septicaemia (blood poisoning): A severe, life-threatening infection spreading through the bloodstream.
- Nerve damage: Injury to nerves around the injection site, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness.
The CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/injection-safety/about/index.html) stresses the importance of safe injection practices in healthcare settings to minimize these risks.
Injection Complications in Medical Procedures
Even with safe injection practices in medical settings, some complications can occur. For example, the National Eye Institute (https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy/injections-treat-eye-conditions) notes that post-injection problems like infection can occur following intravitreal injections (injections into the eye).
Other medical injections, like those used to treat conditions such as degenerative disc disease (https://nyulangone.org/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/treatments/therapeutic-injections-for-degenerative-disc-disease) or rotator cuff disease (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19168537/), may also have potential side effects, though infection is not always a primary concern. Prophylactic antibiotics are sometimes given before certain surgeries to prevent post-operative infections (https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a685032.html).
Preventing Injection-Related Diseases
The key to preventing injection-related diseases is to prioritize safe injection practices. This includes using sterile needles and syringes, proper disposal of used needles, and adherence to infection control protocols in healthcare settings. For individuals who inject drugs, harm reduction strategies are crucial in reducing the spread of infectious diseases (https://www.cdc.gov/persons-who-inject-drugs/about/index.html).
