Abstract
Background
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of shigellosis among household contacts (HHCs) using data from the ‘Enterics for Global Health (EFGH)’ study, conducted at seven Asian and African countries.
Methods
In Bangladesh, the EFGH study was conducted in Maniknagar, Dhaka, to determine the burden of shigellosis among children aged 6–35 months. HHCs of
Shigella
-positive patients (index cases) were enrolled in this study. Stool specimens form contacts were collected within 7 days of enrollment of index cases and culture and qPCR were performed. Sociodemographic and behavioral information were obtained to identify risk factors.
Results
A total of 400 HHCs of 118 index cases were enrolled, of which 36 (9%) were positive for
Shigella
spp. by culture, while qPCR revealed 21% (42/200) of contacts had
Shigella
infections. Individuals who failed to reheat meals before consumption had a two-fold higher risk of shigellosis compared to those who reheated meals, although other sociodemographic and behavioral factors did not show any significant association.
Conclusions
The study revealed a high burden of asymptomatic
Shigella
-infected individuals, emphasizing the need for systematic surveillance to assess the burden and develop effective preventive strategies to prevent the spread of the disease.