Warning as super gastro bug spreads in Victoria

A nasty gastro infection spread via sexual contact and travel is racing through Victoria. Now contact tracers are working to track those exposed to the super bug.

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton has issued a warning on “increasing antibiotic resistance … in infections caused by Shigella bacteria”. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A growing number of antibiotic resistant gastro infections are spreading in Victoria, with contact tracing underway.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton issued an alert on Tuesday, warning “increasing antibiotic resistance is being detected in infections caused by Shigella bacteria”.

Shigellosis is a highly contagious type of gastroenteritis that leads to “acute onset of diarrhoea … fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps”.

Professor Sutton’s alert said “many cases are occurring among men who have had recent sexual contact with other men” and returned travellers.

“Symptoms usually develop one to three days following exposure but can occur as early as 12 hours to as late as one week afterwards in some cases,” he said.

“Antibiotic resistant infections are a serious public health problem because infections are harder to treat.

“Local Public Health Units are following up people diagnosed with antibiotic-resistant Shigella infections and their contacts to provide advice about symptom monitoring, testing and exclusion requirements.”

He said patients who work in certain professions – such as food handling, health and childcare or prisons – should not work until cleared by their local public health unit and urged clinician to save antibiotics for “cases of severe infection”.

“Practising safer sex … and good hygiene can prevent the spread of shigellosis.”

Antibiotic-resistant infections are a serious public health problem.

The alert was issued less than 24 hours after authorities warned lead and several banned poisons has been discovered in several alternative medications, including ones sold in Victorian supermarkets.

The Victorian chief health officer issued the alert on Monday afternoon, warning some Ayurvedic (a traditional medicine that originated in India) products contained lead.

Ingredients that are classified as a poison by Australian regulators were also found, including Azadirachta indica (sometimes listed as “neem” or “Veppilai” and which has been linked to miscarriages in animal studies) and Acorus calamus (sometimes listed as “Ghodbach”, “Vacha”, “Vasambu”, or “Vat Jata”).

Professor Sutton’s alert said some of medications had been available in “several grocery stores”, but the department had also been notified of lead poising cases linked to medications purchased online from overseas suppliers.

He urged any Victorians taking Ayurvedic medications to check the package for an “AUST R” and “AUST L” number — which indicates they have been approved by the regulator — and immediately discard those without one.

“Extremely high blood lead levels can cause long-term organ damage and even death,” he said.

“Anyone taking unapproved medicines with potential symptoms of lead poisoning should be screened for lead toxicity.”

Acute lead poisoning can lead to abdominal pain, nausea and seizures.

Low-level exposure over a period of time can lead to symptoms that are more difficult to detect — but still harmful — such as memory and concentration issues, fatigue, irritability, high blood pressure and poor co-ordination.

Professor Sutton said children and pregnant women may be more at risk and said the incident was a “timely reminder” for health practitioners to ask patients if they take complementary medicines.

“If you buy unregulated medicines, either from a local retailer or online, you may be wasting your money and/or risking your health,” he said.

“These medicines may be contaminated with chemicals, contain illegal ingredients or have the wrong amount of active ingredient. This can lead to serious health consequences.”