People who inject drugs: infection risks, guidance and data

People who inject drugs (PWID) are vulnerable to a wide range of viral and bacterial infections. These infections can result in high levels of illness and in death.

In relation to infections among PWID, PublicUK Health England:Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC):

• monitors infectious diseases and the associated risk and protective behaviours among this group
• provides information to understand the burden of these infections, and what puts people at risk of catching these infections
• monitors the effectiveness of prevention measures
• supports local areas to understand need and commission appropriate services
• brings people together to share intelligence
• provides information to prevent and treat infection

Infections among PWID

Shooting Up: infections among people who inject drugs in the UK

Past reports on infections among people who inject drugs in the UK

Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring (UAM) surveySurvey

The UAM Survey of PWID is the main source of information on the extent of infections and risks in this population. This multi-site survey is a collaboration between PublicUKHSA Health England and over 60 specialist agencies that work with PWID across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In addition to monitoring disease levels, this survey collects information on:

• injecting and sexual behaviours
• uptake of interventions such vaccinations and diagnostic testing
• use of healthcare facilities

Survey data

People who inject drugs: HIV and viral hepatitis monitoring data tablesreports

People who inject drugs: non-fatal overdose monitoring report

PastPrevious UAM Survey of PWID reports fromthat thewere unlinkedpublished anonymousby monitoringPublic Health England (PHE)

Previous UAM) surveySurvey of peoplePWID whoreports injectthat drugswere published by the Health Protection Agency (PWIDHPA)

PWID infection and treatment resources from Public Health England

Information on bloodbloodborne borne viruses from PublicDHSC Health England Alcohol, Drugs & Tobacco Division, includingincludes:

• National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NTDMS):(NTDMS): data on people who inject drugs seeking treatment.treatment
• Estimates opiate and crack cocaine use: estimates of the number of people using and injecting opiates and/or crack-cocaine in England
• Preventing wound drug-relatedaware: deaths:a turningresource evidencefor intodrug practiceservices. briefingInformation for drug services to help them prevent, identify, treat and manage wounds in people who inject drugs

PWID infection and commissioning resources

Information fromon NICE

PWID infection resources

See

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on needle and syringe programmes and drug misuse.

• alcohol and drug misuse prevention, treatment and recovery guidance from Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)

Information on commissioning resources

• commissioning quality standard: alcohol and drug services from OHID

Related public health topics

Public health in prison

Common infections among among PWID

Hepatitis C: guidance, data and analysis

Hepatitis BB: guidance, data and analysis

Hepatitis A: guidance, data and analysis

HIV:HIV: guidance,surveillance, data and analysismanagement

Anthrax: guidance, data and analysis

Botulism: guidance, data and analysis

Tetanus: guidance, data and analysis

Severe systemic sepsis from fromthe HPA’sUK archiveGovernment site.Web Archive

StaphlococcusStaphylococcus aureusaureus: guidance, data and analysis

Group A streptococcal (GAS)(GAS) infections