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. 2019 May 10;19(Suppl 3):474.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-6780-7.

Burden of laboratory-confirmed shigellosis infections in Guatemala 2007-2012: results from a population-based surveillance system

Sonia Hegde  1   2 , Stephen R Benoit  3 , Wences Arvelo  3 , Kim Lindblade  3 , Beatriz López  4 , John P McCracken  4 , Chris Bernart  4 , Aleida Roldan  4 , Joe P Bryan  3
Affiliations

Burden of laboratory-confirmed shigellosis infections in Guatemala 2007-2012: results from a population-based surveillance system

Sonia Hegde et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: We describe the epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of culture-confirmed Shigella infections in facility-based surveillance sites in Guatemala. Current studies using quantitative molecular diagnostics suggest Shigella may contribute most to the global diarrheal disease burden. Since identification of Shigella requires culturing techniques using stool specimens and few laboratories in Guatemala routinely culture for this pathogen, little is known about the true burden of Shigella in Guatemala or, importantly, the antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Methods: Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data were collected on 5399 patients with acute diarrhea (≥3 loose stools in 24 h) from June 2007-August 2012. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was defined as resistance to ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

Results: Five percent (261) of stool specimens yielded Shigella spp. The annual incidence of laboratory-confirmed infections ranged from 5.0 to 24.1 per 100,000 persons in Santa Rosa and 0.3 to 6.2 per 100,000 in Quetzaltenango; 58% of cases occurred in children < 5 years of age. Thirty patients were hospitalized; one patient died. Oral rehydration or intravenous solution was used to treat 72% of hospitalized and 15% of ambulatory cases. Fifty-nine percent of cases were S. flexneri and 51% of cases were MDR.

Conclusions: Shigella is an important cause of bacterial diarrhea in children and prevalence of MDR highlights the importance of appropriate treatment regimens. This study demonstrates that strengthening laboratory capacity in Guatemala can help determine causes which can lead to prevention of diarrheal diseases, particularly in children. Such capacity building is also critical for rapid detection and control of public health threats at their source and therefore for global health security.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Epidemiology; Global health security; Guatemala; Shigella.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests’.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Seasonality of Shigella cases relative to average temperatures and monthly rainfall, 2007–2012 in Santa Rosa and Quetzaltenango Departments, Guatemala. *Peak season of cases and rainfall is from May to October. †This peak is largely from an outbreak at a single birthday party. ‡Surveillance started in February 2009 in Quetzaltenango.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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