Drug-resistant Shigella is spreading: what gay and bisexual men should know
by Queer Switzerland editorialPublished September 25, 20263 min read
A drug-resistant strain spreading through sex The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned that multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of Shigella bacteria are spreading across Europe, with more than 2,300 cases linked to seven distinct clusters since 2023. ECDC says the outbreak mainly affects men who have sex with men. Community outlet gay.ch, reporting on a related UK outbreak, described a sexually transmitted variant that spreads mainly through rimming and other oral-anal contact, needs only a tiny dose of bacteria to infect someone, and spreads roughly twice as fast as other Shigella strains. Symptoms include diarrhoea, sometimes bloody, that can last longer than a typical stomach bug.
What actually helps Shigella can spread during sex and through contaminated food or water. Good hygiene remains important. ECDC's advice: avoid sex while you have diarrhoea or gastrointestinal symptoms, and see a doctor if symptoms are severe, bloody or persistent — resistance means some cases need specific antibiotic testing before treatment works. In Switzerland, Checkpoint centres can advise on sexual health. If Shigella is suspected, ask a healthcare professional specifically about assessment and testing.
Source: ECDC / gay.ch
