Shigella septicaemia in adults: report of two cases and mini-review.
BACKGROUND
We report 2 cases of Shigella septicaemia in adult patients.


METHODS
Two 57-year-old women presented with non-bloody diarrhoea and fever. The first patient was an inmate of a long-term care facility who was schizophrenic and the second patient was a diabetic who recently travelled to Medan, Indonesia. Both patients were febrile, hypotensive and dehydrated. The first patient was neutropenic, thrombocytopenic and had acute renal failure. Blood cultures yielded Shigella flexneri and stool cultures gave negative results for both patients.


METHODS
Rehydration and intravenous ceftriaxone were instituted.


RESULTS
The patients' symptoms and hypotension resolved.


CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate antibiotics can decrease the severity and duration of Shigella septicaemia.
Oh
H M
HM
Department of Medicine, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529889.
Tan
A L
AL
D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications
D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone