Drug-Resistant "Superbug" Shigellosis Spreads in the US
Drug-Resistant "Superbug" Shigellosis Spreads in the US and It's Often Sexually Transmitted
Health authorities are sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in shigellosis across the United States a bacterial infection that causes severe, sometimes bloody diarrhea, and is now spreading chiefly through sexual activity. What makes the outbreak more troubling, experts say, is that the pathogen is increasingly resistant to the drugs used to treat it, earning it "superbug" status.
According to The New York Post, reporting October 8 and citing health sources, the bacteria infect nearly half a million Americans each year. Symptoms include diarrhea with blood or mucus, abdominal pain and cramping, fever, and vomiting. While shigellosis has historically been associated with contaminated food and water, the infection now spreads primarily through sexual contact and is being detected most often in adult men.
The resistance picture is the most alarming trend. The proportion of drug-resistant strains has climbed dramatically, from zero percent in 2011 to 8.5 percent in 2023. Experts note the disease has effectively moved from readily treatable to nearly incurable in the space of a little over a decade, leaving doctors with shrinking options for patients with severe cases.
The report is the latest in a string of infection scares in the US. On October 3, it was reported that the pathogen behind an outbreak of "explosive" diarrhea had been traced to a farm and a packing plant linked to iceberg lettuce from Mexico.
Health officials advise that the infection spreads through contact with fecal matter, including via sexual contact, and that careful hygiene, handwashing after bathroom use and before handling food — remains the best defense. Those experiencing symptoms are urged to stay home from work, avoid preparing food for others, and refrain from sexual activity until cleared by a physician.