Sexually transmitted Shigella infections surge and evolve into drug-resistant strains
Shigella cases are rising through sexual contact, especially among gay and bisexual men, and are becoming harder to treat as drug resistance climbs.
Shigella bacteria, responsible for dysentery-type diarrhea, are increasingly transmitted through sexual activity, particularly within gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men communities. Research shows the sexually transmitted route grew 15% faster each year between 2015 and 2020 than transmission via travel, food or childcare settings, and may now be the dominant pathway. Simultaneously, the pathogen is developing resistance: CDC data indicate drug-resistant cases rose from none in 2011 to 8.5% in 2023, making many conventional antibiotics nearly ineffective.
Most resistant infections occur in adult men, and those acquired sexually tend to require longer hospital stays, averaging four to five days. Experts suggest that inappropriate antibiotic use may be fostering “bystander resistance.” The CDC and California Department of Public Health recommend thorough hand and genital washing, cleaning sex toys with soap, using condoms or dental dams, and avoiding sex with partners who have had recent diarrhea.
Why it matters
Rising drug-resistant Shigella threatens effective treatment of a common sexually transmitted infection.
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