Shigella is Inactivated by Germicidal UV-C Light

What is Shigella?

Shigella bacteria cause an intestinal disease called shigellosis. They cause approximately 450,000 infections in the United States each year. Shigella is found in the feces of infected people, in food or water contaminated by an infected person, and on surfaces that have been touched by infected people. Due to antibiotic resistance, some antibiotics may not be effective for treating some Shigella infections.

Where is it Found?

Diaper changing table contaminated with Shigella — Contaminated Surfaces

Glass of water being filled from tap — Contaminated Water

What Does it Infect?

Woman in pain from gastrointestinal tract infected with Shigella — Intestines

How Does it Spread?

Woman eating food contaminated with Shigella — Eating Food

Hands changing a baby's diaper — Touching Feces or Objects

Woman drinking a glass of water — Drinking Water

Preventing the Spread of Shigella

Shigella can spread by the following means:

Touching surfaces contaminated with germs from a sick person’s stool—such as toys, bathroom fixtures, changing tables, or diaper pails
Eating food contaminated through one of the following:
- It was prepared by someone sick with shigellosis
- It is consumed raw and more likely to be contaminated (fruits and vegetables can contain Shigella germs if they are grown in fields containing human waste)
Swallowing recreational water (for example, lake or river water) while swimming or drinking water that is contaminated with poop containing the germ
Having exposure to stool during sexual contact with someone who is sick or has recently recovered from shigellosis

Regular hand hygiene and surface disinfection are important preventative measures. Since this bacterium can be found in contaminated water, proper water purification is a vital component in preventing the spread of Shigella. Since household wellsopen_in_new can be a source of Shigella infection, they should be tested regularly and properly maintained. Pools and other recreational water sources should be properly disinfected. This bacterium can also be spread through foodopen_in_new — either due to poor hand hygiene of food handlers or because raw produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. Wash all fruits and vegetables well under running water and cook meat thoroughlyopen_in_new.

Get More Protection with UV Disinfection

In addition to the above preventative measures, Germicidal Ultraviolet (UV-C) water disinfection can inactivate Shigella in well water, swimming pools and hot tubs, drinking water, and food prep water.

Restaurants, retailers, and meat processing facilities will benefit by adding UV-C surface disinfection to their regular sanitizing procedures. Another benefit is the ability to operate as usual during a boil water alert. Shop our products at AtlanticUltraviolet.comopen_in_new.

Learn about these applications:

View all UV-C Application Pages.

Our germicidal lamps produce ultraviolet wavelengths at 254 nanometers, the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness. Read our FAQ blog post to learn more. See dosage data below.

UV applications for water and surface disinfection of Shigella

Shigella: Classification & Germicidal UV Dose for Inactivation

Organism:	Type:	Disease:	*UV Dose:**
Shigella dysenteriae	Bacteria	Shigellosis	4.20 mJ/cm²
Shigella flexneri	Bacteria	Shigellosis	3.40 mJ/cm²
Shigella paradysenteriae	Bacteria	Shigellosis	3.40 mJ/cm²
Shigella sonnei	Bacteria	Shigellosis	7.0 mJ/cm²

* Nominal germicidal UV dosage necessary to inactivate better than 99% of microorganism.

People at High Risk for Contracting an Infection

While anyone can contract a Shigella infection, certain groups of people are more likely to get the disease:

Young children (Many outbreaks are related to childcare settings and schools.)
Travelers to developing countriesopen_in_new who consume food, drinking water, or recreational water containing Shigella
Gay or bisexual men (who may transfer germs from one person to the mouth of another during sexual activity)
People with compromised immune systems due to illness (such as HIV) or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy)

Shigella Symptoms:

Symptoms of a Shigella infection usually last 5 to 7 days, but some people may experience symptoms for a month or more. Symptoms of Shigellosis include:

Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
Fever
Stomach pain
Feeling the need to pass a stool even when the bowels are empty

Sources on Shigella:

The above information can be found on the following pages.

Dosage Sources

Myron Lupal, “UV Offers Reliable Disinfection”, Water Conditioning & Purification, November 1993.
Sensitivity of Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses, and Other Microorganisms to Ultraviolet Radiation. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Volume 126, Article No. 126021. August 20, 2021.

Learn More, Shop & Contact Our Specialists

Since 1963, we’ve been engineering and manufacturing germicidal ultraviolet equipment to neutralize harmful microorganisms in water, in air, and on surfaces. Visit these helpful pages:

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Call (631) 273-0500, Monday – Friday 7am to 6pm EST
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