Steep rise in drug use-associated infective endocarditis in West Virginia: Characteristics and healthcare utilization.
Ruchi BhandariTalia AlexanderFrank H AnnieUmar KaleemAffan IrfanSudarshan BallaR Constance WienerChris CookAravinda NanjundappaMark BatesEllen ThompsonGordon S SmithJudith FeinbergMelanie A FisherPublished in: PloS one (2022)
This multisite study reveals a 681% increase in IE admissions in WV over five years primarily attributable to injection drug use, underscoring the urgent need for both prevention efforts and specialized strategies to improve outcomes.