The Claim
Certain bacterial pathogens, including Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp., can survive gastric acidity despite their high acid sensitivity, and as few as 10 Shigella cells can initiate disease, indicating that physiological factors such as gastric emptying rate and transient pH elevation enable microbial escape to the intestine.
What the research says
Not yet evaluated
We are still looking at what the research says.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Some bacteria like Shigella and Salmonella can survive the stomach's acid environment, and as few as 10 Shigella cells can cause disease because changes in how fast the stomach empties and temporary increases in stomach pH allow the bacteria to reach the intestine.
See the scientific wording
Certain bacterial pathogens, including Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp., can survive gastric acidity despite being highly acid-sensitive, with as few as 10 Shigella cells sufficient to initiate disease, indicating that physiological factors such as gastric emptying rate and transient pH elevation may enable microbial escape to the intestine.
When the stomach's acid production temporarily drops, the environment becomes less hostile, allowing even a few bacteria that normally die in acid to pass through unchanged and reach the intestine, where they can start an infection.
What the research says
1 studySome bad bacteria like Shigella can survive the stomach’s acid because sometimes the stomach’s acidity drops temporarily during digestion, letting them slip through to the intestines where they can cause illness—even if only a few bacteria make it.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.