Shigellosis

Reportable by Laboratories and Providers

About this Reportable Disease

Infectious agent: Shigella bacteria, most commonly Shigella sonnei

Description of illness: Symptoms include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and tenesmus. Shigella bacteria are excreted in the stool while an infected person is symptomatic and up to 4 weeks after symptoms resolve.

Interactive Disease Data

Laboratory Reporting for this Disease

Shigella species

TEST NAME	Shigella species
DISEASE/DISORDER	Diarrheal disease, shigellosis
ALTERNATE NAME(S)	Enteric pathogens, stool culture, aerobic bacterial stool culture, Shigella stool culture
METHODOLOGY	Culture
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS	Isolate or specimen submission required Contact CEDEP if foodborne outbreak is suspected
ORDERING INFORMATION	Lab Web Portal

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation	Medications: Do not use barium or bismuth before collection of specimen
Specimen Collection	Stool: - C&S Culture Transport Media (i.e. ParaPak), - Semisolid or liquid transport media (i.e. Cary Blair or Amies) - Commercially available transport system specific for recovery of enteric pathogens from fecal specimens Isolate - Pure cultures
Specimen Labeling	Specimen should be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers along with specimen source and match accompanying test order.
Specimen Processing	None
Specimen Storage and Preservation	Stool specimens should be stored at 2-30°C and arrive at the laboratory within 4 days of specimen collection. If possible, refrigerate at 2-8°C. Isolates should be stored at ambient conditions and submitted within 2 weeks of isolation.
Specimen Transport	Stool: Ship stool specimens at 2-30°C with cold packs. If possible, maintain at 2-8°C. Isolates: Ship isolates in ambient conditions All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180).
Specimen Acceptability and Rejection	Specimens that do not adhere to all specimen requirements will be rejected.
Testing Location	Nashville

Laboratory Reporting

Reporting requirements apply to all laboratories located within Tennessee, as well as laboratories outside of Tennessee that test residents of Tennessee, including laboratories located within healthcare facilities. Healthcare providers and laboratories in the same healthcare facility both have a duty to report. The type of organisms and analytes laboratories must report to TDH for 2026 are indicated, and there are several ways laboratories can report results to TDH.

Manually report results to TDH by faxing or mailing a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department, or faxing to the state health office at (615) 741-3857
Automatically submit results to TDH via electronic laboratory reporting (ELR), which automates the process of sharing data with TDH using interoperability standards.
- See the ELR Onboarding Handbook for details on the onboarding process, checklist, frequently asked questions, business rules, message format, and vocabulary.
- To initiate the ELR onboarding process with TDH, register in the Trading Partner Registration (TPR) system TPR provides documentation for Promoting Interoperability (PI) attestation and milestone letters to document onboarding progress. Contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.
Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.
Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.

Information about this Reportable Disease for Healthcare Providers

Clinical Summary

Shigellosis is an acute infectious colitis caused by Shigella bacteria. Patients commonly present with watery or bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain/cramps, tenesmus, fever, and malaise.
Shigella has a low infectious dose and spreads easily via the fecal–oral route, including person-to-person transmission (notably in childcare, congregate settings, and among close contacts) and through contaminated food/water. Patients can shed Shigella while symptomatic and for weeks after symptoms resolve.
Diagnosis is by stool testing (culture and/or CIDT). When possible, obtain culture to support antimicrobial susceptibility testing and public health investigations.
Treatment is primarily supportive (hydration); antibiotics may be used for severe disease or to reduce duration/transmission risk, but antimicrobial resistance is common, so tailor therapy to susceptibility results when available.
Shigellosis is reportable in Tennessee; promptly notify public health per TDH requirements to support outbreak detection and control measures.

Clinical Links & Info

Clinical information about this disease | CDC

Clinical Care of Shigellosis | CDC

Review the case definition | CDC

Access the case report form (2024) | TDH

Disease Surveillance and Trends | CDC

Healthcare Provider Reporting

Healthcare reporting requirements apply to all providers located within Tennessee, as well as providers whose patients reside in Tennessee.

Providers must report cases of all diseases and conditions listed through one of these methods:

• Mail or fax a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department or fax to the state health office at (615) 741-3857

• Send automatically via electronic case reporting (eCR). See this TDH webpage for more information on eCR, register at the Trader Partner Registration website, or contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.

• Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.

• Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.

Information about this Reportable Disease for the Public

What It Is

An intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria. Spreads through contaminated food, water, or contact with an infected person. Common in areas with poor sanitation. Leads to inflammation of the intestines.

Types

Shigella sonnei – most common in the U.S.

Shigella flexneri – common in developing countries.

Shigella dysenteriae – severe, may cause deadly outbreaks.

Shigella boydii – less common, regional cases.

Signs and Symptoms

Diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and stomach cramps.

Fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Frequent, painful urge to pass stool.

Symptoms usually start 1–2 days after exposure.

Treatment

Mild cases recover with rest and fluids.

Severe cases may need antibiotics (like ciprofloxacin or azithromycin).

Avoid anti-diarrheal drugs that slow bowel movement.

Prevent by handwashing and safe food handling.

This Page Last Updated: March 25, 2026 at 8:53 PM