scholarly journals Six Moments of Infection Prevention in Injection Drug Use: An Educational Toolkit for Clinicians

Author(s):  
Leah Harvey ◽  
Jacqueline Boudreau ◽  
Samantha K Sliwinski ◽  
Judith Strymish ◽  
Allen L Gifford ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Injection drug use-associated bacterial and viral infections are increasing. Expanding access to harm reduction services, such as safe injection education, are effective prevention strategies. However, these strategies have had limited uptake. New tools are needed to improve provider capacity to facilitate dissemination of these evidence-based interventions. Methods The “Six Moments of Harm Reduction” provider educational tool was developed using a global, rather than pathogen-specific, infection prevention framework, highlighting the prevention of invasive bacterial and fungal infections in additional to viral pathogens. The tool’s effectiveness was tested using a short, paired pre/post survey that assessed provider knowledge and attitudes about harm reduction. Results N=75 respondents completed the paired surveys. At baseline, 17 respondents (22.6%) indicated that they had received no prior training in harm reduction and 28 (37.3%) reported discomfort counseling patients who inject drugs (PWID). 60 respondents (80.0%) reported they had never referred a patient to a syringe service program (SSP) and, of those, 73.3% cited lack of knowledge regarding locations of SSPs and 40.0% reported not knowing where to access information regarding SSPs. After the training, 66 (88.0%) reported that they felt more comfortable educating PWID (p<0.0001), 65 respondents (86.6%) reported they planned to use the “Six Moments” model in their own practice, and 100% said they would consider referring patients to a SSP in the future. Conclusions The “Six Moments” model emphasizes the importance of a global approach to infection prevention and harm reduction. This educational intervention can be used as part of a bundle of implementation strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in PWID.

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s437-s438
Author(s):  
Katherine Linsenmeyer ◽  
Justeen Hyde ◽  
Westyn Branch-Elliman

Background: The opioid epidemic has led to a dramatic increase in the rate of invasive bacterial infections, including a 4-fold increase in sepsis and a 12-fold increase in endocarditis. The increase has been demonstrated in both veteran and nonveteran populations (Fig. 1). Thus, an urgent need exists to develop novel tools to educate patients and providers regarding (1) at-risk moments among intravenous drug users and (2) methods for preventing transmission of bacterial and viral infections associated with injection drug use. Methods: We conducted a survey among medical trainees and staff and collected information about knowledge and attitudes about harm-reduction services. To address gaps in knowledge, we developed an educational tool for promoting better infection prevention practices among patients who inject drugs by adapting the WHO Five Moments of Hand Hygiene. Results: In total, 43 medical trainees and staff responded to the survey. All respondents regarded infections as a serious risk among patients who inject drugs, although there was variation in perception about which types of pathogens were the most likely to be acquired through this pathway (ie, bacterial vs viral). Among survey respondents, 15 of 39 (38%) reported that they have counseled patients who inject drugs about infection prevention, whereas 24 (58%) reported that they had never provided counseling. The reason for the lack of counseling was primarily a lack of knowledge and a lack of resources (10 of 24, 42%). One-quarter (6 of 24, 25%) reported that they did perceive infection prevention counseling to be part of their role. To solve this knowledge and resource gap, we developed an educational tool designed to promote understanding of the risk of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and how to prevent them (Fig. 2, A and B). The “Six Moments” model highlights important high-risk moments and activities, such as skin cleaning, use of clean needles, and avoiding oral contamination of needles, as well as the corresponding pathogens that can be transmitted at each stage. Infection prevention strategies are them applied to demonstrate how these infections can be averted. The tool focuses on simple infection prevention interventions that can be taught to patients and providers not trained in infection control to limit transmission of infections associated with IV drug use and addresses the knowledge gap identified through the provider survey. Conclusions: This novel tool can be part of a comprehensive educational program that translates infection prevention principles and applies them to reduce infectious morbidity and mortality related to injection drug use.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsen Davitadze ◽  
Peter Meylakhs ◽  
Aleksey Lakhov ◽  
Elizabeth J. King

Abstract Background Harm reduction services to people who use drugs (PWUD) in Russia are insufficient in terms of quantity, government endorsement, and accessibility. The situation has recently deteriorated even further because of social distancing measures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several organizations have started to provide some harm reduction services via online platforms by web outreach. However, little is known on how online outreach services are organized and implemented. Drawing on the example of St. Petersburg-based NGO “Humanitarian Action,” we explored web outreach work in Telegram instant messenger. Methods Our data were comprised of 4 semi-structured interviews with the NGO staff and 301 cases of web outreach work with PWUD. We used thematic analysis to study the process of web outreach, harm reduction service provision, and needs of PWUD. Results Three stages of the process of web outreach work were identified: clients initiating communication, NGO workers addressing clients’ needs, and NGO workers receiving clients’ feedback. Communication proceeded in group chat or direct messages. Challenges in addressing clients’ needs happened when clients turned for help after hours, sent recorded voice messages, sent unclear messages, and/or were unwilling to transition to telephone communication. All web outreach workers reported receiving only positive feedback on their work. The needs of PWUD were categorized into two major themes, depending on whether they can be addressed fully or partially online. In cases of online only provision of services, web outreach workers helped PWUD treat minor injection drug use complications, obtain verified harm reduction information and receive general psychological support. In instances of partial online services provision, PWUD were assisted in getting treatment of severe injection drug use complications, overdoses, and in accessing offline medical, psychological, social, legal and harm reduction services. Conclusions Our research demonstrated that web outreach work is a convenient tool for delivering some harm reduction services to PWUD either partially or completely online and for recruiting new clients (including hard-to-reach PWUD that avoid attending brick-and-mortar facilities). Harm reduction organizations should consider incorporating online harm reduction services into their activities. However, further research is needed to explore relative advantages and disadvantages of online harm reduction services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 505-514
Author(s):  
Lillian Lourenço ◽  
Marian Kelly ◽  
Jill Tarasuk ◽  
Kyla Stairs ◽  
Maggie Bryson ◽  
...  

Hepatitis C continues to be a significant public health concern in Canada, with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) responsible for more life-years lost than all other infectious diseases in Canada. An increase in reported hepatitis C infections was observed between 2014 and 2018. Here, we present changing epidemiological trends and discuss risk factors for hepatitis C acquisition in Canada that may have contributed to this increase in reported hepatitis C infections, focusing on injection drug use. We describe a decrease in the use of borrowed needles or syringes coupled with an increase in using other used injection drug use equipment. Also, an increased prevalence of injection drug use and use of prescription opioid and methamphetamine injection by people who inject drugs (PWID) may be increasing the risk of HCV acquisition. At the same time, while harm reduction coverage appears to have increased in Canada in recent years, gaps in access and coverage remain. We also consider how direct-acting antiviral (DAA) eligibility expansion may have affected hepatitis C rates from 2014 to 2018. Finally, we present new surveillance trends observed in 2019 and discuss how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may affect hepatitis C case counts from 2020 onwards. Continual efforts to i) enhance hepatitis C surveillance and ii) strengthen the reach, effectiveness, and adoption of hepatitis C prevention and treatment services across Canada are vital to reducing HCV transmission among PWID and achieving Canada’s HCV elimination targets by 2030.


Author(s):  
Wendy Macias-Konstantopoulos ◽  
Alan Heins ◽  
Carolyn J. Sachs ◽  
Paula J. Whiteman ◽  
Neil-Jeremy G. Wingkun ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine S. Todd ◽  
Mark A. Stibich ◽  
M. Raza Stanekzai ◽  
M. Zafar Rasuli ◽  
Shairshah Bayan ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily van der Meulen ◽  
Tara Marie Watson ◽  
Ann De Shalit

Although injection drug use occurs inside Canadian federal prisons, the correctional service does not allow prisoners access to sterile injection equipment as a harm reduction measure. International evaluations have shown that prison-based needle and syringe programs (PNSPs) lead to many beneficial health and other outcomes, and contribute to safer environments for prisoners and staff. This article presents qualitative data from a community-driven study with 30 former prisoners in Ontario, Canada. Participants shared insights that are highly valuable for understanding the prison context in relation to the need for PNSPs, both in Canada and in other jurisdictions.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsen Davitadze ◽  
Peter Meylakhs ◽  
Aleksey Lakhov ◽  
Elizabeth J. King

Abstract Background Harm reduction services to people who use drugs (PWUD) in Russia are insufficient in terms of quantity, government endorsement, and accessibility. The situation has recently deteriorated even further because of social distancing measures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently several harm reduction organizations have started to provide some harm reduction services via online platforms by web outreach. However, little is known on how online outreach services are organized and implemented. Drawing on the example of St. Petersburg-based NGO “Humanitarian Action” we explored web outreach work in Telegram instant messenger. Methods 4 semi-structured interviews with the NGO staff and 301 cases of web outreach work with PWUD comprised the dataset. The process of web outreach, service provision to PWUD, and PWUD’s needs were thematically analyzed. Results Three stages of the process of web outreach work were determined: clients initiating communication, NGO workers addressing clients’ needs, and NGO workers receiving clients’ feedback. Communication proceeded either in group chat or in direct messages. Challenges in addressing clients’ needs happened when clients turned for help in nighttime, sent recorded voice messages, sent unclear messages, and/or were unwilling to transition to telephone communication. All web outreach workers reported receiving only positive feedback on their work. PWUD’s needs were categorized into two major themes, depending on whether they can be addressed fully or partially online. In cases of online only provision of services, web outreach workers helped PWUD treat minor injection drug use complications, obtain verified harm reduction information and receive general psychological support. In instances of partial online services provision, PWUD were assisted in getting treatment of severe injection drug use complications, overdoses, and in accessing offline medical, psychological, social, legal and harm reduction services. Conclusions Our research demonstrated that web outreach work is a convenient tool for delivering some harm reduction services to PWUD either partially or completely online and recruiting new clients (including hard-to-reach PWUD that avoid attending brick-and-mortar facilities). It indicates that harm reduction organizations should consider incorporating online harm reduction services into their activities. However, more research is needed to explore relative advantages and disadvantages of online harm reduction services delivery.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-48
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Azores-Gococo ◽  
Daniel J. Fridberg

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