Shigella
Bacteria that causes an infection called shigellosis
Overview
Shigella is a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness. It is found in the feces of infected people, in food or water contaminated by an infected person, and on surfaces that the have been touched by infected people. Shigella can spread easily in environments such as day care facilities.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms usually include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Symptoms usually last 5 to 7 days in healthy people.
Lab tests are done on stool specimens to identify Shigella.
Treatment
Most people will get better on their own in 5 to 7 days.
If the infection is severe, antibiotics can help symptoms go away faster. A healthcare provider will need to do a test to figure out which antibiotics to use, because Shigella is often resistant to antibiotics.
Prevention
- Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or before preparing food
- Wash your hands after contact with animals or their environments
- Avoid swallowing water when swimming or playing in lakes, streams, pools, and kiddie pools
- Avoid sexual activity with those who have diarrhea or who recently recovered from diarrhea
- People who work in food service, healthcare, or child care should stay home from work until they have no episodes of diarrhea for 24 hours, antibiotics have been taken for 48 hours, and two stool cultures collected at least 24 hours apart have both tested negative