on PinterestThe CDC has issued a warning about a drug-resistant “superbug” on the rise in the United States.
on PinterestThe CDC has issued a warning about a drug-resistant “superbug” on the rise in the United States. Image Credit: Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty Images
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report that showed that drug-resistant Shigella is on the rise in the United States.
- Shigella bacteria cause the infection shigellosis.
- Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella strains are typically resistant to five commonly used antibiotics.
- Shigella can be easily transmitted, including through person-to-person contact and contaminated food.
- There are ways to prevent the spread of Shigella, including regular handwashing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about a drug-resistant, diarrhea-causing “superbug” on the rise in the United States.
The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on April 9 shows increasing infection rates linked to (XDR) Shigella, a bacterium that causes diarrhea. These bacteria cause an infection known as shigellosis.
According to the CDC, Shigella causes around 450,000 infections in the United States each year.
“Antibiotic resistance is a global issue because antibiotics are overused and used inappropriately around the world,” said William Schaffner, MD, a professor of preventive medicine and professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“In the U.S., clinicians and public health have worked hard to become good stewards of antibiotics, using them carefully,” he told Healthline.
XDR Shigella cases increased by 8.5%
The CDC analyzed 16,788 Shigella isolates that were collected through PulseNet between 2011 and 2023.
Around 3% (510) of these isolates were identified as XDR. The proportion of XDR isolates changed from 0% during 2011 to 2015 to 8.5% in 2023.
XDR Shigella is defined by its resistance to five commonly used antibiotics:
- ampicillin
- azithromycin
- ceftriaxone
- ciprofloxacin
- trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
The CDC also noted that no oral antibiotics approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently available for XDR Shigella infections.
Most Shigella cases are acquired domestically
The CDC report indicates that the epidemiology of XDR Shigella has shifted.
Epidemiology refers to the patterns and distributions of health-related events, such as diseases.
Previously, outbreaks of Shigella in the U.S. were drug-susceptible strains and primarily affected children. In contrast, XDR Shigella cases have mostly occurred in adult males with an average age of 41.
The travel history data also showed that the majority of Shigella cases were acquired domestically.
Among individuals with available data, 76.2% reported no recent domestic travel, and 82.4% reported no recent international travel.
What are the health risks of Shigella?
Shigella bacteria are easily spread. These bacteria appear in feces and fecal matter. Swallowing just a small amount of Shigella can make you sick.
Anything that may become contaminated with fecal matter can potentially spread Shigella.
Common ways Shigella is spread include:
- contaminated food or water
- contact with a person who is sick or has recently been sick with a Shigella infection
- sexual activity with someone who is sick
With the rising prevalence of XDR Shigella strains, the CDC noted in its report that stronger surveillance, routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and timely reporting of shigellosis are needed.
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