DRID Workshop 6 - Monitoring other infections (TB, HAV, STIs, spore-forming bacteria, MRSA)
Monitoring other infections
Hans Blystad
Background
Drug-related infections diseases are one of the key epidemiological indicators used by EMCDDA to
monitor drug use and its health consequences. Since 1992, data on chronic viral infections like HIV,
HCV and HBV infections among IDUs have gradually been collected from all the member states (MS).
These infections have till now been regarded as the main causes of infectious diseases burden related
to drug use. The data is collected from IDUs each calendar year using two main methods.
 the monitoring of routine diagnostic testing for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B infection among
IDUs (notification data)
 surveys of IDUs that include serological testing (prevalence data)
Data have since 2008 been submitted electronically through a special template within Fonte.
EMCDDA work in close collaboration with the MS and the ECDC and WHO in collecting such data.
Problem
The chronic viral infections currently monitored have over the years given a good overview on the
burden the disease burden related to drug use in Member states and to a lesser degree been able to
identify outbreaks within MS or across border outbreaks and acute public health problems related to
IDUs. In addition, IDUs are vulnerable to a range of other infections which are currently not monitored
by EMCDDA. These are mainly bacterial infections like:
- skin and soft tissue infections caused by the staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria
(including infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria, like MRSA)
- spore forming bacterial infections (f.inst. anthrax)
- respiratory infections (like tuberculosis, pneumonia and influenza)
- wound botulism
- tetanus
Common for some of these infections are that they may spread across borders through contaminated
drugs. In addition, sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) are more common among IDUs in many MS
as well as hepatitis A.
Aims of the workshop
-
Identify which infections among IDUs (besides HIV,HCV and HBV) are monitored in the
individual MS.
Identify infections (other than HIV,HBV and HCV infections) that could be monitored by
EMCDDA
Discuss feasibility and added value of monitoring these infections on a European level
Discuss monitoring national and cross border outbreaks among IDUs
What do we expect from participants?
-
To have some knowledge of surveillance of infectious diseases among IDUs in own country
Participate in the discussion providing national experiences and thoughts on feasibility of data
collection
One participant to do the reporting (one or two pages in Word)