Shigellosis (Shigella)

How Shigellosis Spreads

Shigella bacteria spreads through cross contamination of the feces of a person who has the Shigella bacteria. You can get infected by swallowing the Shigella bacteria. Some ways Shigella can get into your mouth are:

• Getting Shigella on your hands and touching your mouth. Shigella can get on your hands by:
  • Touching surfaces, such as toys, bathroom fixtures, changing tables, and diaper pails, contaminated with Shigella bacteria.
  • Changing the diaper of a child with Shigella infection.
  • Taking care of a person with a Shigella infection, including cleaning up after the person uses the toilet.
• Eating food prepared by someone with a Shigella infection.
• Swallowing water you swim or play in, such as lake water or swimming pool water that is not regularly treated.
• Swallowing contaminated drinking water, such as water from a well that’s been contaminated with sewage or flood water.
• Exposure to feces during sexual contact with someone with a Shigella infection or who has recently recovered from a Shigella infection. This can happen during sexual activity through:
  • Anal or oral sex, or anal play (rimming, fingering)
  • Handling contaminated objects, such as sex toys, used condoms or barriers, and douching material.

Symptoms & Illness

Symptoms usually start around one to three days after being exposed, but can start anywhere from 12 hours to seven days after exposure.

Symptoms include:

• Diarrhea (can be bloody)
• Stomach pain
• Fever

Symptoms generally last four to seven days.

Who is At Risk

Anyone can get Shigellosis but young children, people travelling to countries that do not have treated tap water or adequate sanitation, and men who have sex with men are at higher risk of infection.

People with weakened immune systems can get a more serious illness. A severe Shigella infection can spread into the blood, which can be life-threatening.

What to Do If You Have Symptoms

If you think you have Shigellosis, it is important to:

• Seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen
• Not prepare food for others
• Avoid sexual contact with others
• Avoid public recreational water facilities such as public pools, hot tubs, spas, and splash pads

Your doctor will test you for shigellosis if they think you have the bacteria.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis

Shigellosis is diagnosed with laboratory tests of the stool.

Treatment

Most people with Shigellosis, including those infected with antimicrobial-resistant Shigella, recover on their own by drinking lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and getting plenty of rest. Antibacterial medication may be prescribed in severe cases.

Recently, labs in Toronto have detected Shigella bacteria that are no longer killed by antibiotics that used to work against them. Men who have sex with men are particularly at risk for infections with Shigella that is resistant to many different types of antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance means that the germs no longer respond to medicine, making it harder to treat the infection. Doctors need to consult with the lab to ensure they treat someone with serious Shigellosis with the right antibiotics.