US health agency issues warning of rise in drug-resistant bacteria

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health alert about the rise of drug-resistant bacteria called Shigella.

There are limited antimicrobial treatments available for these specific strains of Shigella resistant to drugs that are also easily transmissible, the CDC warned in its Friday statement. It is also capable of spreading antimicrobial resistance genes to other bacteria that infect the intestines.

Shigella infections, known as shigellosis, can cause fever, abdominal cramps, an intense urge to have a bowel movement, and bloody diarrhea. The bacteria can be spread via the fecal-oral route, person-to-person contact, and contaminated food and water.

While shigellosis typically affects young children, the CDC says it has begun to see more antimicrobial-resistant infections in adult populations — especially in men who have sex with men, homeless people, international travelers and people living with HIV.

“Given these potentially serious public health concerns, the CDC urges healthcare professionals to remain vigilant about suspecting and reporting cases of XDR Shigella infection to their state or local health department and to educate patients and communities at increased risk about prevention and transmission.” , said the statement.

The CDC says that patients recover from shigellosis without any antimicrobial treatment and can be managed with oral hydration, but for those infected with drug-resistant strains, there are no treatment recommendations if symptoms become more severe.

The percentage of infections with drug-resistant strains of the bacteria increased from zero in 2015 to 5% in 2022, according to the CDC.

Nationwide, there are nearly 3 million antimicrobial-resistant infections each year and more than 35,000 people die as a result, according to the CDC.

A recent report by the United Nations (UN) pointed out that around 5 million deaths worldwide were associated with antimicrobial resistance in 2019 and that the annual number is expected to increase to 10 million by 2050 if measures are not taken to prevent the spread of the disease. antimicrobial resistance.