SUD 101: Managing Complications and Infections in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder-Course Content

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The presentation covered how to recognize and manage acute and chronic infections in patients with opioid use disorder, using a case of Nancy, a young woman with unstable housing, ongoing injection opioid use, fever, back pain, and a skin infection. The talk emphasized common injection-related infections: skin and soft tissue infections, osteoarticular infections, endovascular infections, and viral infections such as hepatitis C and HIV. It reviewed exposure risks like non-sterile injection, needle licking, contaminated water, and environmental contamination.<br /><br />A major focus was infective endocarditis, which is increasing among people who inject drugs and is associated with worse survival. The presenter highlighted that treating opioid withdrawal and starting medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during hospitalization improves retention, treatment completion, and mortality outcomes.<br /><br />The lecture also reviewed hepatitis C and HIV screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Hepatitis C is common among people who inject drugs, often has normal liver tests, and should be confirmed with RNA testing after a positive antibody screen. Modern direct-acting antivirals are short, well tolerated, and highly effective. HIV screening and treatment guidelines were also summarized. Finally, the talk stressed prevention through harm reduction, vaccination, MOUD, and PrEP when appropriate.

Asset Subtitle

Slides, references, and additional resources can be downloaded using the PDFs below.

Keywords

older adults

substance use disorders

opioid overdose

screening tools

AUDIT-C

polypharmacy

chronic pain

nicotine dependence

motivational interviewing

naltrexone

buprenorphine

alcohol use disorder

opioid use disorder

injection drug use

acute infections

infective endocarditis

hepatitis C

harm reduction

abscess management

hospital-based MOUD

injection-related infections

HIV screening

medications for opioid use disorder

needle sharing