(CNN) – US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health advisory To warn the public about the rise of a drug-resistant bacteria called Shigella.
There are limited antimicrobial treatments available for these particular drug-resistant strains of Shigella and it is also easily transmitted, the CDC warned in Friday’s advisory. It is also capable of spreading antimicrobial resistance genes to other bacteria infecting the intestines.
Shigella infection, known as shigellosis, can cause fever, abdominal cramps, tenesmus and diarrhea that is bloody.
The bacteria can be spread by a fecal-oral route, person-to-person contact, and through contaminated food and water.
While shigellosis typically affects young children, the CDC says it has begun to see more antimicrobial-resistant infections in the adult population — especially those who have sex with men, people who are homeless, international travelers. and in people living with HIV.
The advisory added, “Given these potentially serious public health concerns, CDC urges health professionals to be vigilant about suspected cases and reporting cases of XDR Shigella infection to their local or state health department, and to educate patients and communities about prevention and transmission.” asked to educate about the increased risk of
The CDC states that patients will recover from shigellosis without antimicrobial treatment and that it can be managed with oral hydration, but has no treatment recommendations for people who are infected with drug-resistant strains if symptoms become more severe. become
According to the CDC, the percentage of infections with drug-resistant strains of bacteria is expected to increase from zero in 2015 to 5% in 2022.
Nationwide, about 3 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result, According to the CDC.
A recent report of the United Nations stated that nearly 5 million deaths worldwide were linked to antimicrobial resistance in 2019 and that the annual toll is expected to rise to 10 million by 2050 if steps are not taken to halt the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
