Shigella
Health Alerts
| Topic |
Priority
Priority
|
Date of Alert |
|---|---|---|
| No Health Alerts Found | ||
| Increase in Shigella Cases in Philadelphia | Advisory | Dec 11, 2023 |
| Increase in Shigella Cases in Philadelphia | Advisory | Nov 8, 2023 |
| Increase in Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis in the United States | Alert | Mar 6, 2023 |
| Ciprofloxacin-resistance in Shigella isolates in Philadelphia | Advisory | Apr 7, 2015 |
| Increase in Community-wide Transmission of Shigella in Philadelphia | Advisory | Dec 11, 2008 |
Surveillance
An increase in shigella cases has been observed in Philadelphia over the last month. Cases have been reported among people experiencing homelessness and opioid use disorder. Shigellosis is a reportable condition in Philadelphia. Providers who use culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT) instead of culture for diagnosis should request reflex culture when CIDT is positive.
Cases in Philadelphia have increased in the last month. There have been 21 cases identified among adults and 4 cases identified among children since October 1, 2023. Investigations are ongoing, however preliminary investigations suggest that some individuals testing positive are experiencing homelessness or opioid use disorder. Among the cases, different species and serovars have been identified indicating that more than one cluster is possibly occurring. Nationwide, cases are being reported frequently among people experiencing homelessness, as well as gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
Vaccine Information
No vaccines are currently available for shigellosis.
Diagnosis & Management
The primary way shigellosis is diagnosed is through a stool culture. Providers using culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT) instead of culture for diagnosis of enteric infections should request that the clinical laboratory perform reflex culture when CIDT is positive for Shigella species. If a culture is positive for Shigella, order antimicrobial susceptibility testing to inform antimicrobial selection. In addition, providers should consider HIV testing in individuals requiring hospitalization due to shigellosis.
Infection with Shigella bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, but these bacteria are frequently resistant to many antibiotic drugs. Providers should order antimicrobial susceptibility testing to determine the appropriate drug for treatment. Also, treatment is typically reserved for those who present with severe illness, are immunocompromised, or those who work or participate in high-risk settings (childcare, healthcare, and foodhandling).
Resources
For Healthcare Providers:
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health regulations require the exclusion of persons with Shigella infection who participate or work in high-risk settings (e.g., childcare, foodservice, healthcare). They must have two negative stool cultures collected 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after the completion of antiobiotic therapy before they can return.
Reporting to PDPH
Report shigella cases to PDPH by calling 215-685-6748 during business hours or completing this Disease reporting form and faxing the form to 215-238-6947.
Health Educational Materials
2023 Shigella Flyer: English | Spanish | Arabic | Chinese | Russian | Vietnamese
CDC Shigellosis Information for Healthcare Providers
Shigella Guidance for Outreach Workers
CDC Shigellosis Among People Experiencing Homelessness
Links and Resources
Guidelines for Management and Control
Shigella Guidelines
All Facilities/Populations
- The Philadelphia Department of Public Health regulations require the exclusion of persons with Shigella infection who participate or work in high-risk settings (e.g., childcare, foodservice, healthcare). They must have two negative stool cultures collected 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after the completion of antibiotic therapy before they can return.
For Patients and Community Members:
There are no patient or community resources for Shigella.
Posters:
There are no posters for Shigella.