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[Dysentery in Poland in 2001]

Hanna Stypułkowska-Misiurewicz1, Ewa Gonera

  • 1Krajowy Ośrodek Shigella, Państwowy Zakład Higieny ul. Chocimska 24, 00-791 Warszawa.

Przeglad Epidemiologiczny
|August 21, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Dysentery cases remain low in Poland, with Shigella sonnei as the primary cause. However, inconsistent laboratory media quality poses a risk to accurate diagnosis of intestinal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The incidence of dysentery in Poland has remained consistently low in recent years, with 128 cases reported in 2001 and 121 in 2000.
  • No dysentery-related deaths have been reported since 1999, indicating a potential decrease in disease severity or improved management.
  • Outbreaks of foodborne infections have also declined, with only one recorded in 2001 compared to multiple outbreaks in previous years.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the etiological agents responsible for dysentery in Poland.
  • To evaluate the quality of selective media used in bacteriological laboratories for diagnosing intestinal infections.
  • To determine the need for regular external quality control of laboratory procedures during periods of low infection frequency.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of notified dysentery cases and outbreaks from 2000-2001.
  • Bacteriological examination of causative agents, specifically Shigella species.
  • External quality control assessment of Mac Conkey and SS media used in 37 Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations (SSE) laboratories.

Main Results:

  • Shigella sonnei was the predominant pathogen, identified in 91% of dysentery cases, while Shigella flexneri accounted for 10%.
  • Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella boydii were not detected.
  • While Mac Conkey media quality was adequate for all tested strains (S. sonnei, S. flexneri, S. Typhi, S. Enteritidis), SS media was only suitable for S. Enteritidis. Nearly one-third of laboratories had inadequate media for S. flexneri diagnosis, and some also for S. Typhi and S. sonnei.

Conclusions:

  • Shigella sonnei continues to be the primary cause of dysentery in Poland.
  • Inconsistent quality of bacteriological diagnostic media across laboratories is a significant concern, potentially impacting accurate identification of intestinal pathogens.
  • Regular external quality control of laboratory media and procedures is crucial, especially during periods of low infectious disease incidence, to maintain diagnostic reliability.

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