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Table 1 Factors associated with an injection site infection in last year among injecting drug users: England 2003/05.

From: Frequency, factors and costs associated with injection site infections: Findings from a national multi-site survey of injecting drug users in England

  

Yes

N

(Total = 990)

Univariate Odds

Ratio with 95%

confidence interval

Mulitvariate Adjusted

Odds Ratio with 95%

confidence interval

Gender

Male

263

755

35%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Female

102

235

43%

1.4

1.1 – 1.9

1.7

1.2 – 2.4

Received prescribed substitute drug

Currently

178

511

35%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Previously

150

322

47%

1.6

1.2 – 2.2

1.7

1.3 – 2.4

 

Never

37

157

24%

0.6

0.4 – 0.9

0.9

0.5 – 1.3

Age in Years

<= 24

47

186

25%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

25 – 29

103

273

38%

1.8

1.2 – 2.7

1.6

1.0 – 2.6

 

30 – 34

107

258

41%

2.1

1.4 – 3.2

2.0

1.3 – 3.2

 

35+

108

273

40%

1.9

1.3 – 2.9

1.9

1.2 – 3.0

Inject into leg last 4 weeks

No

212

701

30%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Yes

153

289

53%

2.6

2.0 – 3.4

2.2

1.6 – 3.1

Inject into groin last 4 weeks

No

176

543

32%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Yes

189

447

42%

1.5

1.2 – 2.0

1.4

1.1 – 1.9

Inject into hand last 4 weeks

No

245

759

32%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Yes

120

231

52%

2.3

1.7 – 3.1

1.9

1.3 – 2.6

Clean Needle/Syringe for reuse

No

77

259

30%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Yes

288

731

39%

1.5

1.1 – 2.1

1.5

1.1 – 2.1

Inject crack last 4 weeks

No

188

588

32%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Yes

177

402

44%

1.7

1.3 – 2.2

1.5

1.1 – 2.0

Days injected last 4 weeks

<= 13 days

46

181

25%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

14 – 27 days

84

208

40%

2.0

1.3 – 3.1

1.8

1.2 – 2.9

 

28 days

235

601

39%

1.9

1.3 – 2.7

1.5

1.0 – 2.3

Anti-HCV Positive

No

135

454

30%

1.0

 

1.0

 
 

Yes

230

536

43%

1.8

1.4 – 2.3

1.5

1.1 – 2.0

Homeless

Never

36

140

26%

1.0

 

†

 
 

Over a year ago

98

266

37%

1.7

1.1 – 2.7

  
 

In last year

231

584

40%

1.9

1.2 – 2.9

  

Number of years injecting

<= 4

53

210

25%

1.0

 

†

 
 

5 – 9

120

300

40%

2.0

1.3 – 2.9

  
 

10 – 14

87

227

38%

1.8

1.2 – 2.8

  
 

15 +

105

253

42%

2.1

1.4 – 3.1

  

Inject into neck last 4 weeks

No

288

841

34%

1.0

 

†

 
 

Yes

77

149

52%

2.1

1.4 – 2.9

  

Prepare drug using citric acid

No

12

59

20%

1.0

 

†

 
 

Yes

353

931

38%

2.4

1.3 – 4.6

  

Times injected last full day

Once

53

168

32%

1.0

 

†

 
 

Twice

77

266

29%

0.9

0.6 – 1.3

  
 

Thee times

81

203

40%

1.4

0.9 – 2.2

  
 

4+ times

154

353

44%

1.7

1.1 – 2.5

  

Clean injecting site last 4 weeks

Never

185

444

42%

1.0

 

†

 
 

Sometimes

83

224

37%

0.8

0.6 – 1.1

  
 

Always

97

322

30%

0.6

0.4 – 0.8

  

Times injected with last needle

Once

186

549

34%

1.0

 

†

 
 

Twice

68

189

36%

1.1

0.8 – 1.5

  
 

Three times

39

100

39%

1.2

0.8 – 1.9

  
 

4+ times

72

152

47%

1.8

1.2 – 2.5

  

Ever had voluntary confidential test for hepatitis C

Yes

257

652

39%

1.4

1.0 – 1.8

†

 
 

No

108

338

32%

1.0

   

Anti-HBc positive

No

239

680

35%

1.0

 

†

 
 

Yes

126

310

41%

1.3

1.0 – 1.7

  
  1. † Variable not in final model.
  2. Note: Reporting an injection site infection in previous year was not associated with: having been imprisoned; having had an overdose; injecting amphetamines; washing hands before injection; injecting into arms; using vitamin c/ascorbic acid, lemon juice or vinegar to dissolve drugs; ever having had voluntary-confidential test for HIV; and uptake of hepatitis B vaccine.
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BMC Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1471-2334

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