Handwashing factsheet sources of infection 1

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esides contaminants that may be in the drug, there are three (3) major sources that are responsible for infections associated with injecting drug use.

These sources are the air, the skin and the blood.

GThe SKINH The skin is the organ that protects your insides from infection from outside sources.

It is also a source of bacteria responsible for intravenous associated infection.

Bacteria found on the skin are either resident or transient.

Resident bacteria are those that are normally present on the skin. These are normally the same bacteria for everyone. These organisms adhere tightly to the skin and since not all bacteria are removed by washing, injecting drug users must take particular care when using any injecting equipment, sterile or otherwise.

Transient bacteria may be loosely attached to the skin – this is normally bacteria that have been picked up by you from your surroundings, and it changes from day to day. Not many transient bacteria live on clean unbroken skin but there can be plenty of them on greasy, dirty exposed areas of the body. It is here that washing your hands and cleaning injection sites becomes essential to avoid transferring germs to your equipment or another person.

GThe AIRH If you have an infection on your body, any sort of activity, such as throwing off your shirt, bed making etc, sends bacteria from pus, lint and dried skin flying into the air. These contaminants may then find their way onto and into injecting equipment like spoons, filters and normal things like a drinking glass which you might use to hold your injecting water.

Try to cover your water container with a clean lid, especially if you have no other way to get more clean water.

In order to avoid contamination, dispose of all injecting equipment you use after you’ve finished. Get yourself clean equipment every time! Never reuse any equipment.

The best and safest alternative of course is to have a pack of sterile syringes, water ampoules, a regularly cleaned spoon etc (never use a silver spoon because of the tarnish) by your side.

GThe BLOODH Blood can harbor potentially dangerous micro-organisms like hepatitis C and the HIV viruses.

It is crucial to wash your hands before AND after each hit to ensure you don’t transmit or pick up often minute blood particles, that have been left behind that could be picked up by another person.

It doesn’t matter what you inject, personal hygiene is essential for injectors who want to keep themselves healthy. Always take care to clean any injecting site regularly as any infection has the potential to be extremely serious.

It may not always be possible to be absolutely clean but it is very important. Whatever the circumstances, and the situation you’re in when having your hit, always try to be as clean as you can.

Use bottled water to rinse over your hands before and after your hit.

Abscess formation: The series below shows how bacteria and contaminants can get into the system to cause abscesses.

Injection misses veins and leaves contaminants in tissue.

White blood cells attack contaminants but can’t eliminate them quickly.

Bacteria continue to grow creating abscess..

Don’t let your friends bite off the filter, and don’t lick your needle – your mouth has the best collection of nasty bacteria and you don’t want them injected into you.

Find out what you can do to make things safer for yourself – it takes a short amount of time to include hand washing into your routine – and a long time to get better if you find yourself having to deal with an abscess or dirty hit. It’s up to you.

If the body cannot get rid of the infection, the abscess keeps growing.