Pathogens
Shigella species

Shigella species

Precautions

Contact Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

Aerobic gram negative rod

  • Human/animal reservoir
  • Contaminated water
  • Often travel related
  • Outbreaks - e.g. Daycare
  • Infectious colitis - dysenteric
  • HUS
  • Reactive Arthritis
  • Bacteremia
  • Intra-abdominal abscess

Most adults require treatment but Shigella infection is usually a self limited infection in healthy individuals, lasting 5-7 days. Treatment shortens course by about 2 days.

Treatment always recommended in immunocompromised patients or those with severe disease (require hospitalization, invasive disease, complicated infection).

Report to Public Health Services