Management of Opioid Use Disorder and Infectious Disease in the Inpatient Setting

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2020 Sep;34(3):511-524. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2020.06.008.

Abstract

Acute bacterial infections such as endocarditis and skin and soft tissue infections are a common cause of hospitalization among persons with opioid use disorder (OUD). These interactions with acute care physicians provide an opportunity to diagnose OUD and treat patients with medications for OUD, including buprenorphine. When available, Addiction Medicine Consultation can be effective at linking patients to addiction treatment and also engaging patients in care for acute bacterial infections. In health systems without access to addiction medicine experts, infectious diseases providers, hospitalists, and other clinicians serve a valuable role in the diagnosis and treatment of OUD.

Keywords: Injection drug use; Medications for opioid use disorder; Opioids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects*
  • Communicable Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Communicable Diseases / etiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / etiology
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Inpatients
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / complications
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / therapy*
  • Pain Management
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / drug therapy*
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / etiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections / drug therapy*
  • Soft Tissue Infections / etiology

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid