Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls,Science,Shigella on May 6, 2026
A drug-resistant Shigella strain is spreading across the United States. Making food poisoning infections caused by this germ difficult to treat.
Why?
In addition to being increasingly antimicrobial resistant, there is no approved treatment for the germ.
So, where does that lead us?
Prevention strategies are more important than ever with drug-resistant Shigella. But what exactly does that look like? What is Shigella and how is it spread?
Here’s what we know so far about the drug-resistant Shigella situation.
Shigella infections are most commonly observed in young children in daycare settings and in travel-related illnesses to areas of poor sanitation and endemic presence of Shigella. Foodborne Shigella infections are also on the list.
Fortunately, these infections are often self-limiting, in that they often run their course without medical intervention. Historically, they have been easy to treat for those who need it.
Unfortunately, that may be changing.
Another method of spreading has generated a type of Shigella bacteria which has shown marked resistance to antimicrobial medications. These infections were primarily spread through sexually transmitted action. Notably between men who have sex with men.
These drug-resistant Shigella bacteria have now spread beyond that demographic and into the general public. With a drug-resistant Shigella strain finding its way into other groups.
Severe drug-resistant Shigella infections are difficult to treat. This is because they do not respond to traditional antibacterial medications like ampicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
The CDC report indicates that certain medications like oral carbapenems, pivmecillinam, and fosfomycin may be effective. But they are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for shigellosis treatment.
This leaves no available FDA-approved oral antimicrobial medications to treat these infections.
Since this discovery, scientists across the United States have begun investigating this new strain. A germ they have dubbed XDR, for extensively drug resistant. Their findings were recently published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) weekly publication. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Emergence of Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis – United State, 2011-2023 was published in the April 9 edition.
To better understand these drug-resistant Shigella infections, scientists analyzed Shigella isolates submitted to the CDC’s molecular surveillance network (PulseNet). Since Shigella is a nationally notifiable illness, diagnosed cases are submitted to this database.
Data between January 1, 2011 and October 20, 2023 was obtained and analyzed for available antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
In all, 3% of those with available data were antimicrobial resistant. The bulk of those Shigella species were Shigella sonnei followed by Shigella flexneri.
When looking at the data, drug-resistant Shigella went from non-existent to nearly 10% within a decade.
Between 2011 and 2015 these strains were not found. In 2023, 8.5% of them were drug-resistant.
A growing concern.
One of the major reasons for concern is the highly contagious nature of Shigella bacteria. As few as 10 organisms can cause infection.
It is also easily spread through contaminated food, water, and from person-to-person through fecal oral route or sexual contact.
When someone in food service is infected, they can easily spread this illness onto countless unsuspecting patrons. Not to mention the food ingredients that could come into home and commercial kitchens already contaminated with the germ.
Many foods have been associated with Shigella outbreaks over the years. Making some foods riskier for Shigella contamination than others. This is due to the way it is grown, prepared, or how it is consumed.
Risky foods include:
Drinking water contaminated with Shigella bacteria is another way of contracting a Shigella infection. Improperly or untreated water that has been contaminated with waste runoff is one of the most common water-originating causes.
While contaminated foods is one of the most common ways of contracting Shigella infection, it isn’t the only way. In addition to contact with contaminated water, mishandled or unhygienically handled food is another common source.
Shigella infections are spread through what is known as fecal-oral route. In that bacteria shed in an infected person’s bowel movement inadvertently consumed by another person can cause infection.
It doesn’t take much feces to spread illness. Even trace amounts leading to contaminated food that does not look, taste, or smell any differently can make you sick. It is as simple as someone with a Shigella infection not washing their hands after using the bathroom and coming into contact with common surfaces or preparing food. When someone eats that food or touches something that has been touched and does not wash their hands prior to eating, they can take in those harmful microbes.
Shigella infections may cause a variety of symptoms. However, diarrheal illness is the most commonly reported.
Common symptoms include:
Symptoms usually begin a day or two after consuming something contaminated with Shigella bacteria and usually resolve within a week.
Most people do not need antibiotic treatment to recover. However, some people may experience complications that can result in hospitalization, serious illness, or even death. Especially when drug-resistant Shigella is involved.
Those with a weakened immune system should call their doctor right away if they begin experiencing symptoms consistent with Shigella infection, as they are more likely to experience severe or prolonged symptoms and severe complications.
Anyone with serious symptoms should call their doctor or seek urgent care right away.
Seek medical care if you have:
In some cases, Shigella infections can lead to lasting effects. For some, it may take weeks (or even months) before bowel habits return to normal.
Additionally, up to 3% of those with Shigella infections develop a type of joint condition known as reactive arthritis. This can cause chronic joint pain, swelling and irritation of the eyes, and sometimes painful urination.
Other complications may include:
Shigella infections can easily spread from person to person, if those who are infected are not careful.
In fact, you can continue to spread the illness days (or even weeks) after you feel better.
Containing drug-resistant Shigella starts with prevention.
Always wash your hands before you eat or prepare food for others, when you use the restroom or help someone in the restroom, and after you change a diaper. If you are sick, do not prepare food for others, or report to work in a food service or childcare industry.
Break the cycle.
Becoming sick in a Shigella outbreak can be a stressful situation. Medical bills, missing work, caring for sick loved ones, and other burdens associated with Shigella infections add up.
If you have been impacted by a Shigella outbreak, seek advice from an experienced Shigella lawyer. A firm that has represented cases just like yours and has won millions of dollars for families in your situation.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Shigella lawyer that can help! If you have questions about making a legal claim, your answers are just a phone call or email away. Don’t wait to get the help you need and the justice you deserve.
Call (833) 330-3663 or click here to email for a free, no obligation consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)