The pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were evaluated in 34 patients (10 burn patients, 14 intravenous drug abusers [IVDA], and 10 controls). Multiple serum samples were drawn following a 1-h vancomycin infusion at steady state over an 8- to 12-h dosing interval. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived by noncompartmental analysis. There were no significant differences among the groups with respect...

Intravenous injection of powdered tablets intended to oral use is a common practice among drug abusers, given the greater effectiveness attributed to accelerate delivery of the drug through this route compared to oral intake. This can result in both acute and chronic changes in the pulmonary vessels and parenchyma. Various terms have been used to describe this entity and include self-induced pu...

Tianeptine is a selective serotonin reuptake enhancer, possessing strong antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. Its relative lack of sedative, anticholinergic and cardiovascular side effects makes it a highly tolerable substance of abuse. However, physical dependence quickly develops and withdrawal symptoms are common. Abusers in Georgia and Armenia use tianeptine by intravenous injection. D...

Delta antigen (delta) is a transmissible agent requiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its replication. Antibody to delta (anti-delta) was present in nine of 71 (13%) British HBV carriers: six were intravenous drug abusers and two were haemophiliacs. Anti-delta was negative in 30 HBsAg positive homosexuals. Cirrhosis was common in patients with anti-delta and those with anti-delta positive cirrho...

Intravenous injection of powdered tablets intended to oral use is a common practice among drug abusers, given the greater effectiveness attributed to accelerate delivery of the drug through this route compared to oral intake. This can result in both acute and chronic changes in the pulmonary vessels and parenchyma. Various terms have been used to describe this entity and include self-induced pu...

Disseminated candidiasis in intravenous (IV) drug abusers is a distinctive syndrome. The hallmarks of this syndrome include the sequential development of skin, eye, and osteoarticular lesions; an epidemic nature in some cases; association with the use of brown heroin diluted with lemon juice; and the etiologic agent, which almost always is Candida albicans. In this case, a 42-year-old male IV d...

Right-sided endocarditis has increased in frequency since the 1970's, and it accounted for 14% of total infective endocarditis (Robbins et al, 1986) and 54% of drug addicts who developed endocarditis (Tuazon and Sheagren, 1974). Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen, which is in contrast to the streptococcal association in left-sided endocarditis (Osler, 1885). Polymicrobial infecti...