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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about a drug-resistant, diarrhea-causing \u201csuperbug\u201d on the rise in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
According to the CDC, Shigella causes around \u201cAntibiotic resistance is a global issue because antibiotics are overused and used inappropriately around the world,\u201d said William Schaffner<\/a>, MD, a professor of preventive medicine and professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIn the U.S., clinicians and public health have worked hard to become good stewards of antibiotics, using them carefully,\u201d he told Healthline. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The CDC analyzed 16,788 Shigella isolates that were collected through 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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n XDR Shigella is defined by its resistance to five commonly used<\/a> antibiotics: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The CDC also noted that no oral antibiotics approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently available for XDR Shigella infections. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n The CDC report indicates that the epidemiology of XDR Shigella has shifted. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Epidemiology refers to the patterns and distributions of health-related events, such as diseases. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The travel history data also showed that the majority of Shigella cases were acquired domestically. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Among individuals with available data, 76.2% reported no recent domestic travel, and 82.4% reported no recent international travel. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Shigella bacteria are easily spread. These bacteria appear in feces and fecal matter. Swallowing just a small amount of Shigella can make you sick. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Anything that may become contaminated with fecal matter can potentially spread Shigella. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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. Shigellosis is a nationally notifiable disease. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The CDC also called for targeted prevention methods to limit further spread of XDR Shigella infections. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Robert Glatter<\/a>, MD, an attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra\/ Northwell, said that \u201ctreatment options for XDR Shigella are extremely limited.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Schaffner agreed. \u201cAntibiotic-resistant Shigella bacteria are a concern because they leave us with no antibiotics to treat the more serious infections, requiring us to rely on supportive therapy to help patients get over their illness,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Glatter said that most cases resolve with supportive treatments, such as oral rehydration and electrolyte<\/a> replacement, continued feeding or resumption of a usual diet after rehydration, and zinc<\/a> supplementation, especially for malnourished individuals. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFor severe infections requiring antibiotics, physicians may use carbapenems<\/a> given intravenously, which are the most reliable option for severe XDR infections but require hospitalization,\u201d Glatter said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n