CDC Issues Update on Managing Shigella Treated with Certain Antibiotics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today issued updated recommendations for managing and reporting Shigella infections that were treated with ciprofloxacin or azithromycin and resulted in possible clinical treatment failure. “If treatment failure is suspected, clinicians should consider consulting an infectious disease specialist to identify best treatment options, and submit a stool specimen for antimicrobial susceptibility testing,” CDC said. “Clinicians should monitor patients carefully and report cases of possible clinical treatment failure to CDC.” Shigella bacteria can cause Shigellosis, a diarrheal disease that should be reported to local health departments.