Retained needle fragments commonly serve as sources of recurrent infections with a potential to embolize to the heart and lungs and can lead to life-threatening consequences. Here, we report a case of a 46-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug user and chronic forearm wounds, presenting with sepsis. Several retained needles are identified on CT scan, several days postadmission. This case highlights the importance of timely assessment of infectious sources in patients with history of intravenous drug abuse.
Keywords: Foreign bodies; Fracture needles; IV Drug abuse complications; Recurrent infections; Sepsis risk.
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.