Better antibiotic dosing for Shigella (bacillary dysentery)
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships for antibacterial treatment of shigellosis
This project will learn how antibiotic levels in the gut affect how well they treat Shigella infections in children and other people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325291 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can expect the team to study how much antibiotic reaches the intestines and how that level links to killing Shigella and the rise of resistance. The researchers will use laboratory and animal experiments to measure drug exposure in the gut and relate those levels to infection clearance. They will build a preclinical framework to help pick and optimize antibiotic types and doses before testing in people. The goal is to guide better treatment choices for children in low-resource settings and other groups affected by drug-resistant Shigella.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although mainly preclinical now, people with active Shigella infection—especially young children in endemic regions or adults with drug-resistant infections—would be the ideal candidates for future related trials.
Not a fit: Patients without Shigella infection or those whose diarrhea is caused by viruses or non-bacterial problems are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to antibiotic dosing that clears Shigella infections more reliably and slows the emergence of resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown gut drug levels matter for other intestinal infections, but applying detailed exposure–response work to drug-resistant Shigella is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arnold, Samuel L — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Arnold, Samuel L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.