Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Drug-Resistant Shigella Spreads Through Sexual Transmission in the United States
Shigella is a germ that can cause diarrhoea.
Researchers found that infections in the United States were mostly among adult men from 2011 to 2023.
The report describes Shigella as spreading through sexual contact.
It also found that some infections are becoming harder to treat with medicines.
The share of samples classified as extensively drug-resistant went from zero in 2011–2015 to 8.5% in 2023.
The report said 47% of the adult men had HIV.
No oral antimicrobial medicine is FDA-approved for this extensively drug-resistant infection.
Researchers said preventing infections, finding them early, choosing treatment based on tests, and reporting cases promptly are important.
Researchers from the CDC and health departments analyzed nearly 17,000 Shigella isolates collected from 2011 through 2023.
The vast majority of reported US Shigella infections during that period were in adult men.
Among those men, 47% had HIV, according to the report.
Extensively drug-resistant Shigella isolates rose from 0% in 2011–2015 to 8.5% in 2023.
Researchers said prevention, early detection, susceptibility-guided treatment, and timely reporting are important because no oral antimicrobial agents are FDA-approved for XDR Shigella.
- Who
- Researchers from the CDC and health departments across the United States; infections were mostly in adult men.
- What
- A report found rising extensively drug-resistant Shigella and described the infection as spreading sexually.
- When
- The analysis covered 2011 through 2023; the XDR share reached 8.5% in 2023.
- Where
- United States
- Why
- The report urges prevention, early detection, susceptibility-guided treatment, and timely reporting because no oral antimicrobial agents are FDA-approved for XDR Shigella.
- Analysis period
- 2011–2023
- Samples analyzed
- Nearly 17,000 Shigella isolates
- XDR share, 2011–2015
- 0%
- XDR share, 2023
- 8.5%
- Adult men with HIV
- 47%
- FDA-approved oral antimicrobials for XDR Shigella
- None