Prevention of Shigellosis

Prevention of Shigellosis

Hygienic practices help in prevention of dysentery caused by Shigella infection


Educating the public on the importance of frequent hand-washing after using toilet or before serving food can prevent outbreaks of shigellosis and gastroenteritis worldwide.

Shigella spreads by food getting contaminated with fecal matter.

• Hygienic practices, such as washing hands thoroughly using soap and water is a must especially after -
• Visiting the toilet
• After changing diapers
• Before food preparation
• Before eating a meal
• Salads should be thoroughly washed before consumption
• It is important to properly store salads and cooked food which are refrigerated

For a traveler to a tropical or developing country, the best dictum to follow is - "boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it". Travelers should also avoid eating salads, drinking pooled water and stick to drinking bottled water.."

• How does the shigella infection spread?
• When individuals with Shigellosis wash themselves after a visit to the toilet, their fingers can easily contaminate objects such as toilet door, taps, towels and flush.
• When another person touches the contaminated objects they get infected. People with the symptoms of shigellosis should avoid using public toilet for they are prone to spread the infection
• Remember that many child day care centres can become a health hazard if proper measures are not followed.

In Science Shams and Bible Bloopers, David Mills describes daycare centres as follows: The typical daycare center...spreads far more infection and communicable disease than the county jail."


Preventive measures in 'Child Care Centres' -

• Soiled diapers should be properly disposed
• Hand washing of children and toddlers should be supervised after they visit the toilet
• Area where diapers are changed should be properly disinfected and regularly cleaned
• Children suffering from diarrhea should not be allowed in day-care centres
• Insects infesting the fecal matter of an infected person can spread the bacterium around. Therefore insect - control methods should be practiced.
• Adequate chlorination of the water supply can to a large extent control bacillary dysentery epidemics.
• It is important to drink water free from bacterial contamination. It is ideal to thoroughly boil water before drinking it.
• Pasteurization of all milk and dairy products should be practiced
• Milk and water for infant feeding all should always be boiled. Bottles and teats should similarly be cleaned and changed if necessary.

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