A bacterial infection that can spread through sexual contact is becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used antibiotics in the United States. Shigella is a highly contagious bacterium that causes an intestinal infection called shigellosis, typically causing symptoms like diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. A 2026 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the proportion of tested Shigella samples classified as extensively drug-resistant (XDR) rose from 0 percent between 2011 and 2015 to 8.5 percent in 2023.
These strains are resistant to five antibiotics commonly used to treat the infection. However, experts say the findings do not mean Americans are experiencing a nationwide surge in infections. Most people who contract shigellosis recover without antibiotics, and the greatest risks are concentrated among certain populations.
"The number of cases does not seem to have increased over the last few years, although the proportion of the bacteria that are extensively drug-resistant has increased," Dr. Sarath Nath, an infectious disease expert at Stony Brook Medicine and director of the Stony Brook STD Clinic, told Newsweek. The CDC's provisional surveillance figures recorded 13,921 reported cases among United States residents through September 26, 2026, compared with 14,277 over the corresponding period in 2025.
These figures are subject to revision and do not include every infection in the United States. Shigella is a group of bacteria that causes an intestinal infection called shigellosis. The CDC estimates that approximately 450,000 infections occur across the U.S. every year.
Although the infection has attracted attention because of its potential to spread through sexual activity, it is not exclusively a sexually transmitted infection, with contaminated food, water and contact with infected individuals also being ways the illness can spread. Shigellosis is particularly contagious because relatively few bacteria are needed to cause illness. According to the CDC, swallowing as few as 10 organisms can cause infection.
Symptoms generally begin one to two days after exposure and include diarrhea, which may be bloody, as well as fever, abdominal pain and a persistent feeling of needing to use the toilet even when the bowels are empty. Symptoms typically last five to seven days, although some people are ill longer. Most infections resolve without antibiotics, and rest and adequate hydration are usually enough for mild cases.
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