Shigellosis medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Medical Therapy
Fluid Replacement
- As with any infectious diarrhea, the most important initial step in the management of patients with shigellosis is fluid and salt replacement.
- Oral fluid replacement is sufficient for the majority of patients, and can be accomplished with oral glucose or starch-containing electrolyte solutions. Oral rehydration solutions should contain the WHO-recommended electrolyte concentrations (Na 90 mM, K 20 mM, Cl 80 mM, HCO3 30 mM, and glucose 111 mM).
- Oral fluid replacement is superior to IV fluids for patients who can tolerate it.
- Oral rehydration solutions can be prepared by mixing 3.5 g of NaCl, 2.5 g of NaHCO3 (or 2.9 g of Na citrate), 1.5 g of KCl, and 20 g of glucose or glucose polymer (e.g., 40 g of sucrose or 4 tablespoons of sugar or 50–60 g of cooked cereal flour such as rice, maize, sorghum, millet, wheat, or potato) per liter of clean water.
- IV fluid replacement should be tailored to the individual patient's lab findings (electrolytes, BUN, creatinine).
Symptomatic Treatment
- Antimotility agents (such as diphenoxylate or loperamide) are not recommended for patients with documented Shigella infections. These agents may prolong the infection and increase the shedding of Shigella organisms.
- Fever should be treated with antipyretics, particularly among pediatric patients, as Shigella gastroenteritis can be associated with prolonged high grade fevers.
Antibiotic Therapy
Antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, or furazolidone may be given when the person is very young or very old, when the disease is severe, or when there is a high risk of the infection spreading to other people. The severity of the symptoms and the length of time the stool contains Shigella are reduced with antibiotics.