Abstract
Both acute traveler’s diarrhea and sexually transmitted infections are common causes of fever in the returned traveler, with the male sex corresponding to two-fold increased odds of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis related to travel.
Plain language summary
We report a case of a healthy male traveler who acquired a foodborne bacterial traveler’s diarrhea as well as sexually transmitted rectal gonorrhea while traveling to Europe. He suffered from fever, diarrhea, and rectal pain before being fully treated with antibiotics.
Introduction
Shigellosis is an acute diarrheal illness presenting as acute watery diarrhea to fulminant dysentery.1,2 It is spread via direct or indirect fecal-oral route, however, alternatively, via direct or indirect sexual contact. 3 This includes anal or oral sex, anal play, and handling objects including sex toys, used condoms, barriers, or douching materials. 3 Individuals at risk for shigellosis include children aged 1–4 in resource-limited settings, travelers to endemic areas, those experiencing homelessness, and children in daycare and their household contacts. 2 Men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV infection are at increased risk due to factors, including compromised cell-mediated immunity and behavioral practices. 4
This disease is caused by four species of
Gonorrhea can cause infection of the pharynx, rectum, and urethra, and more rarely disseminated sites, and is caused by a Gram-negative diplococci:
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) currently recommends treatment with a third-generation cephalosporin with either azithromycin or doxycycline. 12 Single-dose cephalosporin monotherapy regimens with higher dosing for gonococcal isolates with elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) are recommended in other countries, including the UK and the USA.13,14
The Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT) identifies both acute traveler’s diarrhea (10%–20%) and sexually transmitted infections (2%–3%) as common causes of fever in a returning traveler, with male sex corresponding to about a doubling in the odds of an STI diagnosis related to travel.15,16 CATMAT guidelines recommend consideration of empiric Ciprofloxacin in the treatment of adults with traveler’s diarrhea for a duration of 3 days. 15 The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) recommends empiric treatment of infectious, bloody diarrhea with either fluoroquinolone or azithromycin. 17
Sexually related gastrointestinal infections, including proctocolitis, have high rates of polymicrobial infection of up to 45.2%. 18 These polymicrobial infections consist of enteric pathogens, parasites, and classic STIs. Up to 40% of cases of shigellosis in MSM individuals have been identified to have concomitant STIs, including rectal gonorrhea. 19 Prior gonorrhea infection within the preceding year has been identified to be an independent risk factor for shigellosis within the MSM population living with HIV, with a 29.4-fold increased risk of acquisition. 20 Given these findings and overlapping symptoms, screening for parasitic, enteric, and STI infections is important to identify possible polymicrobial infections in this population. 21
This case report was conducted and reported in accordance with the CARE statement (Supplemental Material).
24
It highlights the importance of a broad differential diagnosis of proctocolitis. We herein present a case of a febrile returned traveler with a predominantly gastrointestinal presentation whose microbiological work-up confirmed coinfection with
Case presentation
A 35-year-old man living with HIV, virally suppressed on bictegravir-emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide and a CD4 count of 450 cells/mm3, presented to the emergency department (ED) with an 11-day history of watery diarrhea with mucus, abdominal pain, and pain with defecation. He was febrile throughout this 11-day course, with a maximum temperature of 39.7°C on the day of presentation to the ED and notable tachycardia of 106 on examination.
His history was significant for travel to Portugal and Spain preceding his illness, with symptom onset on day 5 of travel. During his trip, he endorsed the consumption of raw seafood, local cuisine, unpasteurized dairy, and local water. His travel partners did not become sick during their trip. Prior to his trip, 7 days before symptom onset he endorsed an event with multiple new sexual partners where he engaged in condomless sex, and had taken doxycycline as pre-exposure prophylaxis prior to this event.
His presenting bloodwork demonstrated a normal leukocyte count of 5.4 × 109/L (normal range 4.0–11.0 bil/L) and neutrophil count of 2.7 × 109/L (normal range 2.0–7.5 bil/L). In the ED, a contrast CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated acute proctocolitis. Blood and stool cultures were collected at this time. Rectal swabs were collected for molecular testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and Herpes simplex virus. He was empirically treated in the ED with 1 g of intramuscular Ceftriaxone and prescribed a 7-day course of Doxycycline 100 mg BID for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Given his febrile traveler’s diarrhea, he was referred to our Tropical Disease Unit (TDU) via our Rapid Assessment of Diarrhea in Travelers clinic and evaluated in consultation the subsequent day.
Upon evaluation in the TDU, he reported persistent abdominal pain with loose stools despite empiric proctitis treatment. His fevers had resolved on the day of the presentation; however, endorsed ongoing rectal pain, tenesmus, and pain with defecation. He had begun taking the empiric course of doxycycline and was tolerating the medication well. On examination in the TDU, he was vitally stable with a blood pressure of 102/66 mmHg, pulse of 77 bpm, and temperature of 37.6°C orally. Physical examination was notable for abdominal tenderness in the left lower quadrant and palpable inguinal lymphadenopathy. There were no evident skin lesions or rashes, nor was there icterus.
Based on the totality of epidemiological risk factors, the differential diagnosis of this febrile gastroenteritis was broad, but most consistent with a typical traveler’s diarrhea due to common enteropathogens such as Campylobacter,
Following his initial ED visit, molecular testing returned positive for rectal
The patient had empirically received treatment for his rectal gonorrhea, warranting no further gonococcal-specific intervention. Given his persistent but improving diarrhea 18 days after symptom onset of the microbiological diagnosis of
Discussion
We present a case of intercurrent rectal gonorrhea infection and shigellosis in a returning traveler with a history significant for new sexual partners and as a member of the MSM population, virally suppressed HIV infection with a CD4 count of 450 cells/mm3, and multiple potentially significant dietary exposures while traveling including raw seafood, unpasteurized dairy, and street food. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis of proctocolitis (Table 1), despite an early initial diagnosis, especially in the MSM population. The case further underscores the importance of even short courses of targeted antimicrobial therapy in prolonged shigellosis infection and offers an opportunity to review the current infection control guidelines surrounding shigellosis.
Comparison of select microbial causes of proctocolitis in febrile returned travelers.3,25–28
Serology may be non-reactive if early stages of infection.
ABX, antibiotics; CMIA, chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification tests, O&P, ova, and parasite; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; RPR, rapid plasma regain; TP.PA,
Shigellosis and rectal gonorrhea are both associated with abdominal pain, mucus discharge from the rectum, and fever.2,25 Both organisms can be transmitted sexually, with shigellosis also transmitted via direct and indirect fecal-oral routes. The incubation period for shigellosis is 1–4 days, with duration of illness that is usually only 5–7 days.
2
The incubation period for gonorrhea, on the other hand, is 5–10 days and can persist for months without treatment.
25
Our patient had a recent history of condomless intercourse with multiple new partners, increasing the risk of transmission for both shigellosis and gonorrhea and travel history concerning direct and indirect
In individuals living with HIV, the rates of Gram-negative bacterial enteric infections are at least 10 times higher than in the general population. 26 This rate declines with antiretroviral therapy and is inversely proportionate to the CD4 T lymphocyte count, with the greatest risk at counts < 200 cells/mm3. A decision regarding empiric therapy of gastroenteritis considers an individual’s symptoms and their CD4 count, with counts of 200–500 cells/mm3 and severe diarrhea indications for a short course of antibiotics, compared to those with CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3 in whom further extensive work-up should be performed in addition to longer courses of antimicrobial therapy. 26
Targeted antimicrobial therapy against
Following treatment for shigellosis, the other management consideration in this patient was advice regarding infection prevention and control.
Conclusion
This case highlights a number of important points in regard to shigellosis in the MSM population and the need for consideration of intercurrent infections. Regardless of travel history, shigellosis should be considered in cases of acute gastroenteritis or proctocolitis given the range of potential transmission pathways. There is transmission risk, incubation, and symptomatic overlap between common STIs, especially rectal infections, and shigellosis; as such, the differential diagnosis should remain broad to account for intercurrent infections and reduce the risk of premature diagnostic closure. Antimicrobial therapy affords rapid clinical improvement compared to supportive management only, reduced carriage, and reduced potential for transmission. Clinical guidelines specific to a patient’s underlying comorbidities and presentation exist, particularly for those living with HIV. Individuals diagnosed with shigellosis should be counseled at the time of diagnosis around behaviors that will reduce or prevent transmission.
Supplemental Material
sj-pdf-1-tai-10.1177_20499361251319659 – Supplemental material for A case of intercurrent shigellosis and rectal gonorrhea in an acutely unwell febrile returned traveler
Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-tai-10.1177_20499361251319659 for A case of intercurrent shigellosis and rectal gonorrhea in an acutely unwell febrile returned traveler by Charlotte Fuller, Ruchika Bagga, Ezra Bado, Syed Zain Ahmad and Andrea K. Boggild in Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease
Footnotes
References
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
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