Hospitals report rise in bacterial infection
Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008
Cases are on the rise in Arkansas of a nasty gastrointestinal infection found most commonly in young children and toddlers.
A total of 118 cases of shigellosis have been reported in 18 Arkansas counties this year, compared with 105 cases in 2007, said Dr. Sandra Snow, medical director of communicable disease / immunizations at the Arkansas Department of Health.
Pulaski County has had the most, with 63 cases this year. Desha County is second-highest with 10 cases, and Union County is third with six cases.
“We have definitely seen an increase in cases,” said Craig Gilliam, director of infection control at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
The Little Rock hospital has had 16 cases so far this month, up from 13 in April, 11 in March and two in February. Forty-one shigellosis cases have been reported at Arkansas Children’s Hospital this year, including inpatients, outpatients and samples sent for testing from area doctors ’ offices, Gilliam said.
Shigellosis is an infectious disease that causes bloody diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, with symptoms usually lasting no more than five to seven days, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is caused when people are infected with a highly contagious bacteria called shigella, named for a Japanese scientist who discovered it more than 100 years ago.
About 14, 000 U. S. cases of the disease are reported annually. However, most cases are never reported, and the number of actual shigellosis cases could be 20 times higher, according to the CDC.
Shigellosis is much more common in developing countries. Most types of the bacteria cause temporary symptoms, but one type found in the developing world, shigella dysenteriae type 1, can cause deadly epidemics.
The bacteria is passed from person-to-person, usually when a person comes into contact with infected stool or soiled fingers. It is most likely to occur among toddlers who are not fully toilettrained, according to the CDC.
Some infected people may have no symptoms. The number of infections fluctuates greatly year to year.
Most Arkansas cases are among young children who contract the bacteria at day care or preschool, Snow said. Shigellosis also can be passed through food when hands are not properly washed.
So far this year, 62 of the cases are in 1- to 5-year-olds, 41 cases 5- to 19-year-olds, six cases are in 19- to 30-year-olds, and three cases each have been reported in the 30-40, 40-65, and 65 and over age groups.
“Parents need to make sure that” hands are washed, Gilliam said. “If someone has a diarrhea illness, clean that up well.” Shigellosis is more invasive than other parasitic or bacterial infections, with only a tiny amount needed to pass it from person to person.
Symptoms in older children and adults usually resolve without medication, but doctors may prescribe five days of antibiotics for infants, young children and other people with weak immune systems.
Sick children should stay home to reduce risk of spreading shigella, he said.
To prevent shigellosis, people should wash their hands, clean vegetables, drink purified water and properly dispose of diapers. Day-care centers shouldn’t have water play areas, and infected people shouldn’t handle food for two to three days after their symptoms subside, as they can still pass it along.
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