From Newsweek · · 1m 10s
Sexually Transmitted Diarrhea Drug Resistance Concern
US sees rise in drug-resistant Shigella infections via sexual contact.
In brief
US sees rise in drug-resistant Shigella infections via sexual contact. US drug-resistant Shigella infections through sexual contact increased from 0% to 8.5% in 2023, but most people recover without antibiotics. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Shigella Infection
Shigella causes intestinal infections with symptoms like diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
Drug Resistance Rise
CDC reports 8.5 percent of tested Shigella samples were extensively drug-resistant in 2023, up from 0 percent in 2011-2015.
Antibiotic Resistance
XDR Shigella strains resist five common antibiotics including ampicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
CDC Case Numbers
CDC recorded 13,921 reported Shigella cases in US through September 2026, compared with 14,277 in 2025.
Transmission Routes
Shigella spreads through fecal-oral route, including contaminated food, water, poor hygiene, and sexual contact.
Sexual Transmission Risk
86.2 percent of XDR Shigella patients were men, though sexual transmission rates remain unclear.
Public Health Concern
Experts say most people recover without antibiotics, but hospitalization rates for XDR cases are 37.6 percent.
Protection Measures
Wash hands, genitals and anal area with soap before and after sexual activity to reduce Shigella risk.
The bottom line
US drug-resistant Shigella infections through sexual contact increased from 0% to 8.5% in 2023, but most people recover without antibiotics.
