Four cases of shigella septicemia in Israel

Four cases of shigella septicemia are presented. In two children infection was caused by Shigella flexneri and in two adults, who had underlying diseases which caused immunosuppression, by Shigella sonnei and Shigella schmitzi. All four patients responded to intravenous antibiotic therapy. In one patient the organism persisted in the stool, but was eliminated after oral administration of chloramphenicol. Shigella septicemia is not uncommon and blood cultures should be obtained in suspected cases.