Multidrug resistant Shigella flexneri : a rare case of septicemia in an infant.

Shigellosis is still an important public health problem in developing and under-developed countries. It may lead to rare but potentially fatal various extra intestinal complications like septicemia, involvement of CNS, urinary tract and liver especially in young malnourished children. The disease is difficult to prevent as only few bacteria are required for causing infection and there is increasing infection with multi drug resistant strains. A 6-month-old infant developed septicemia caused by multi drug resistant Shigella flexneri during an episode of gastrointestinal infection. The patient was managed in the emergency ward but unfortunately the infant expired. Considering septic shock, blood culture, stool culture and other relevant investigations were done. Stool as well as blood culture yielded Shigella flexneri. The isolates were multidrug resistant. Following is a rare case presentation of Shigella septicemia with severe shock, DIC and convulsions. The case report demonstrates how shigellosis can lead to a rare life threatening complication and hence should be considered as a possibility in septicemia associated with diarrhea and vomiting in infant and young children.