Opioid exposure as a potential risk factor for vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization in the absence of antimicrobial exposure.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial exposure leads to an increased risk of colonization and spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Studies have also implicated exposure to nonantimicrobial medications as a potential risk factor for an increased risk of colonization with these pathogens. METHODS: A matched case-control study was performed to determine specific nonantimicrobial medications associated with vancomycin-resistant enterococci rectal colonization. Cases and controls were defined as persons who were not exposed to antimicrobials in the preceding 12 months and in whom vancomycin-resistant enterococci rectal colonization was and was not detected at hospital admission, respectively. Matching was performed by the date of admission. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and included patient demographics, clinical data, and exposure to non-antimicrobial medications in the preceding 90 days. RESULTS: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization was identified among 2,919 (4.8%) patients during their first admission among 59,986 admissions. Among these patients, 27 cases were identified and were matched to 63 controls. Exposure to opioids was the only independent risk factor associated with colonization (adjusted odds ratio 3.8 [95% confidence interval 1.4-10.8], P-value = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Opioid exposure may increase the risk of vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization. Preventing the acquisition of these pathogens may require infection-prevention efforts targeting persons exposed to opioids.

Prevention and treatment produced large decreases in HIV incidence in a model of people who inject drugs.

In the United States, people who inject drugs continue to be at greatly increased risk of HIV infection. To estimate the effectiveness of various prevention scenarios, we modeled HIV transmission in a dynamic network of drug users and people who did not use drugs that was based on the New York Metropolitan Statistical Area population. We compared the projected HIV incidence in 2020 and 2040 if current approaches continue to be used to the incidence if one or more of the following hypothetical interventions were applied: increased HIV testing, improved access to substance abuse treatment, increased use of needle and syringe programs, scaled-up treatment as prevention, and a "high impact" combination scenario, consisting of all of the strategies listed above. No strategy completely eliminated HIV transmission. The high-impact combination strategy produced the largest decrease in HIV incidence-a 62 percent reduction compared to the status quo. Our results suggest that increased resources for and investments in multiple HIV prevention approaches will be required to eliminate HIV transmission among people who inject drugs.