Shigella sepsis
B. Duncan, V. A. Fulginiti, O. F. Sieber Jr and K. J. Ryan
It is generally believed that bacteremia rarely occurs with enteric
Shigella infections. During a five-year period, 110 children were admitted
to the University Hospital of the Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson,
with Shigella enteritis. Eight (7%) had Shigella bacteremia/septicemia, and
four of the eight died. An analysis of these patients and their course
disclosed clinical characteristics that were of potential prognostic
importance. Some of these indicators are identifiable early and hence could
be useful in management. The patients at greatest risk were afebrile; 10%
or more dehydrated; malnourished, with a low serum albumin level; infected
with ampicillin-resistant strains; had leukopenia during the course of the
illness; and had persistent watery hemoglobin-positive stools.
