Frequency of vaccine-related and therapeutic injections--Romania, 1998

In Romania and other countries, therapeutic injections have been associated with transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and other bloodborne pathogens. During 1997-1998, acute hepatitis B was associated with recent injections in Romanian children aged <5 years. Injection-associated bloodborne pathogen transmission occurs when infection-control practices are inadequate, and overuse of injections to administer medications might increase opportunities for transmission. To estimate the frequency of therapeutic injections and to describe the attitudes and practices of adults about injections to administer medications, local health departments in Romania surveyed the general population of four districts (Hunedoara, Iasi, Mures, and Prahova [1997 combined population: 2.8 million]) in June 1998. This report summarizes results from these surveys, which indicate that injections are used frequently to administer medications in Romania.