# Sexually Transmitted Diarrhea Drug Resistance Concern

> US sees rise in drug-resistant Shigella infections via sexual contact.
- Title: Sexually Transmitted Diarrhea Drug Resistance Concern
- Summary: 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%…
- Keywords: shigella, drug resistance, cdc, extensively drug-resistant, sexual transmission, shigellosis, antibiotics, hospitalization, Sexually, Transmitted, Diarrhea, Drug
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/shigella-drug-resistant-should-us-be-worried-12555164
- Published: 2026-10-12T13:53:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shigella, drug resistance, cdc, extensively drug-resistant, sexual transmission, shigellosis, antibiotics, hospitalization
## 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.
## Key takeaway

US drug-resistant Shigella infections through sexual contact increased from 0% to 8.5% in 2023, but most people recover without antibiotics.