Meth and MRSA

In a cautionary, online slide show, the Multnomah County* Sheriff's Department warns of the cosmetic toll of meth addiction. Before-and-after mug shots show the result of drug-induced formication and the damaged caused by the victim's scratching and digging at skin, in an attempt to alleviate the creepy-crawly sensation.

Meth users with skin lesions may be especially prone to MRSA infection. Last year, investigators at the CDC and Georgia health departments reported an association between meth use and skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI) due to MRSA in rural populations. Patients presenting to emergency or urgent-care facilities with MRSA SSTI were significantly more likely to have used meth within the last 3 months than control individuals (adjusted odds ratio, 5.10; 95% CI: 1.55, 16.79), and frequent skin picking was independently associated with MRSA SSTI (adjusted OR, 2.53; 95% CI: 1.22, 5.23).

MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

*Oregon.