Health
CDC Warns of Rising Drug-Resistant Shigella Infections
Health officials are growing concerned over a drug-resistant bacteria known as XDR Shigella. This infection causes shigellosis, a condition marked by severe diarrhea and stomach pain.
New data shows that drug-resistant strains have jumped from 0% to 8.5% over the last decade. While historically seen in children, these new cases are appearing primarily in adult men.
Health Points
- Shigella affects roughly 450,000 Americans annually and is highly contagious through small amounts of fecal matter.
- Most current cases are being acquired domestically within the United States rather than through international travel.
- Prevention includes frequent handwashing, careful diaper changes, and avoiding contaminated water while swimming.
Experts note that antibiotic resistance is a global concern sparked by the misuse of common medications. This specific superbug has evolved to resist five of the most commonly used antibiotics.
Doctor Robert Glatter explains that treatment options are extremely limited once these resistant strains take hold. For serious cases, physicians may need to use intravenous medications that require a hospital stay.
“Antibiotic resistance is a global issue because antibiotics are overused and used inappropriately around the world,” says preventive medicine expert Dr. William Schaffner.
Symptoms typically include bloody diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps appearing within two days of exposure. Most healthy adults recover with hydration and rest, but the lack of oral drug options remains a major public health worry.
