eMedicine Specialties > Gastroenterology > Colon

Shigellosis: Follow-up

Author: Joyann A Kroser, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Hepatology, Drexel University College of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 22, 2008

Follow-up

Deterrence/Prevention

A vaccine for shigellosis is not currently available. Until a vaccine is available, the following measures can help prevent the dissemination of shigellosis:

  • Use of safe drinking water
  • Chlorination of unreliable water sources
  • Strict handwashing
  • Refrigeration and proper preparation and cooking of food
    • Food handlers must be treated with antibiotics and should not be involved in food preparation as long as stool cultures are positive for Shigella infection.
    • At least 48 hours of antibiotic treatment are usually required.

Complications

Prognosis

  • Postinfection carriage is generally less than 3-4 weeks.
  • Mild cramps and diarrhea may continue for many days to weeks after treatment of shigellosis.

Patient Education

  • Careful handwashing and stool precautions should prevent the dissemination of shigellosis.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Physicians should be cognizant that travelers from North America or Europe who acquire shigellosis or other bacterial dysenteries in Southeast Asia or in the Indian subcontinent may return home with organisms resistant to multiple drugs.
  • Shigellosis is a public health concern, and S dysenteriae causes epidemic shigellosis.
 


More on Shigellosis

Overview: Shigellosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Shigellosis
Treatment & Medication: Shigellosis
Follow-up: Shigellosis
References
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References

  1. Al-Abri SS, Beeching NJ, Nye FJ. Traveller's diarrhoea. Lancet Infect Dis. Jun 2005;5(6):349-60. [Medline].

  2. Banerjee S, LaMont JT. Treatment of gastrointestinal infections. Gastroenterology. Feb 2000;118(2 Suppl 1):S48-67. [Medline].

  3. Dupont HL, Edelman R, Kimmey M. Infectious diarrhea: from E coli to Vibrio. Patient Care. 1990;30:18-43.

  4. Kroser JA, Metz DC. Evaluation of the adult patient with diarrhea. Prim Care. Sep 1996;23(3):629-47. [Medline].

  5. Murphy GS, Bodhidatta L, Echeverria P, et al. Ciprofloxacin and loperamide in the treatment of bacillary dysentery. Ann Intern Med. Apr 15 1993;118(8):582-6. [Medline].

  6. Policar M. Shigellosis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. 2005:752-754.

  7. Sivapalasingam S, Nelson JM, Joyce K, et al. High prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Shigella isolates in the United States tested by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System from 1999 to 2002. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. Jan 2006;50(1):49-54. [Medline].

  8. Taneja N. Changing epidemiology of shigellosis and emergence of ciprofloxacin-resistant Shigellae in India. J Clin Microbiol. Feb 2007;45(2):678-9. [Medline].

  9. Wolf DC, Gianella RA. Invasive pathogens. Consultations in Gastroenterology. 1996;381-384.

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Further Reading

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Keywords

shigellosis, dysentery, bacillary dysentery, diarrhea, bacterial infection, intestinal infection, Shigella organisms, Shigella boydii, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, S dysenteriae, S flexneri, S sonnei, S boydii

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Joyann A Kroser, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Hepatology, Drexel University College of Medicine
Joyann A Kroser, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Philadelphia County Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Ronnie Fass, MD, Director of GI Motility Laboratory, Tucson VA Medical Center, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Arizona School of Medicine
Ronnie Fass, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Gastroenterological Association, American Motility Society, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Israel Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Aaron Glatt, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine, New York Medical College; President and CEO, Former Chief Medical Officer, Departments of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, New Island Hospital
Aaron Glatt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Thoracic Society, American Venereal Disease Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, International AIDS Society, and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania
Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law Medicine and Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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