A composite vignette: xylazine, infectious complications and the importance of community-based drug checking services
Here we describe a composite vignette of a patient who developed necrotic wounds and systemic infection after reported exposure to xylazine, a veterinary anesthetic found as an adulterant in the unregulated drug supply. While exposure to xylazine-containing compounds via the use of fentanyl is not a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20499361251365090 |
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| Summary: | Here we describe a composite vignette of a patient who developed necrotic wounds and systemic infection after reported exposure to xylazine, a veterinary anesthetic found as an adulterant in the unregulated drug supply. While exposure to xylazine-containing compounds via the use of fentanyl is not a new phenomenon, xylazine’s prevalence in overdose deaths has escalated, and its geographic distribution has expanded to include rural areas such as Maine. We use this composite vignette to highlight: (1) the growing number of overdoses in Maine where xylazine was found in combination with fentanyl, (2) the potential severe, infection-related complications of xylazine exposure, and (3) describe novel harm reduction strategies that utilize community- and laboratory-based drug checking technology. |
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| ISSN: | 2049-937X |