Infectious Diseases of Drug Users in the Czech Republic

Overview

Backgrounds.
Prevalence of drug users in Czech Republic remains stable in the last years (about 22 to 38 thousands). Two thirds of drug users administer the drug intravenously, what is the most risky way of application. It is also why the number of infectious diseases in that community has not decreased.

Methods and Results.
435 of drug users were hospitalised between 2002 and 2005 at the Infectious Centre for Drug Users of the Teaching Hospital Motol. Most patients were screened for viral hepatitis and HIV infections, regardless the diagnose during hospitalisation. Patients were hospitalized with the diagnose acute viral hepatitis in 44% (191/436), skin and soft tissue infection in 15% (67/436), chronic hepatitis in 15% (65/436), respiratory infections in 7% (31/436), urogenital infections in 4% (19/436), and sepsis in 4%. Remaining 9% (39/436) of diagnoses represented the less frequent infections. Analysis has shown that 44% of patients acquired hepatitis B and 50% of them are infected with hepatitis C virus. Soft tissue infections, sepsis and infectious endocarditis were caused by sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes from the group A.

Conclusions.
Viral hepatitis is the most frequent infectious disease of drug users practising intravenous application in the Czech Republic. Thanks to the extensive vaccination against hepatitis B, the decreased incidence can be expected in the coming years.

Key words:
hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, drug users practising intravenous application, bacterial infections, infectious endocarditis.