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I am looking for scientific publications on the likelyhood to get infected with a specific disease by used needles which were thrown away by careless addicts.

Which viruses can be found statistically on needles in specific regions?

I am looking for a statement like

N percent of the collected needles in area X were contaminated with Y.

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    I suspect that infections caused by needles tossed by careless addicts are vanishingly rare. So if someone is asking which diseases are prevalent among addicts in a given area, epidemiological data would give much better answers. Or does your question go more toward how much risk such needles present?
    – Carey Gregory ♦
    Aug 22 '19 at 0:23
  • Yes, finally my question is about the risk. I have split the question in two parts. a) which diseases are typical? b) what is the probability to get infected?
    – Jonas Stein
    Aug 22 '19 at 0:28
  • Most needle transfers of diseases refer to sharing of needles, not carelessly discarded ones. HIV in particular really does not survive long outside the body. I'm a bit doubtful anyone has gone around collecting discarded needles to test them but I could be wrong.
    – Bryan Krause
    Aug 22 '19 at 13:56
  • I also doubt you can get an useful answer about what percent of needles are contaminated. Would you accept an answer with some case reports or such?
    – Jan
    Aug 23 '19 at 16:32

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