Wound Botulism Associated with Black Tar Heroin

The incidence of wound botulism is increasing and the epidemiology of the disease is changing. The majority of new cases are associated with injection drug use, in particular, the use of Mexican black tar heroin. This case report and discussion of wound botulism illustrate the following important points: Dysphagia, dysphonia, diplopia, and descending paralysis, in association with injection drug use, should alert the treating physician to the possibility of wound botulism. In such patients, the onset of respiratory failure may be sudden and without clinically obvious signs of respiratory weakness. For the reported patient, maximum inspiratory force measurements were the only reliable indicator of respiratory muscle weakness. This is a measurement not routinely performed in the ED, but may prove essential for patients with suspected wound botulism. To minimize the effect of the botulinum toxin and to decrease length of hospital stay, antitoxin administration and surgical wound debridement should be performed early.     

A case of infant botulism associated with honey feeding in Italy

A case of infant botulism in a 9 week-old female is described. A strain of C. botulinum type B was isolated from the feces of the baby. The epidemiologic study detected in a sample of home canned honey Clostridium botulinum spores of the same serotype that was isolated from the patient. The honey had been used only to sweeten the pacifier of the baby. This is the first case of infant botulism in Europe linked conclusively to honey.Corresponding author.     

Shot by a Gun … Missed by a Provider

Background

Botulism is a paralytic disease caused by the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. The majority of cases are due to ingestion or injection drug use. Wound botulism from traumatic injury is exceedingly rare, with only one to two cases reported each year in the United States.

肉毒杆菌中毒的临床特点

目的 探讨肉毒杆菌中毒的临床特点.方法 回顾性分析5例肉毒杆菌中毒患者的临床资料.结果 本组5例患者均因食用自制臭豆腐发病,其中3例为群体发病.发病潜伏期平均3.4d.首发症状分别为言语不清3例、吞咽困难3例、头晕3例、无力和腹泻2例,呼吸困难1例;随着病程进展,5例患者均出现头晕、视物模糊,出现眼睑下垂、睁眼困难、全身无力和肌力下降4例,胸闷、呼吸困难和复视3例.给予A型和B型肉毒抗毒素治疗,同时给予吸氧、抗感染和维持水电解质等对症治疗.经治疗病情好转4例,其中2例遗留轻度吞咽困难,无效1例(治疗较晚).结论 肉毒杆菌中毒多出现神经系统损害的症状,主要表现为头晕及脑神经麻痹和肌肉瘫痪;早期应用肉毒抗毒素治疗的效果较好.     

Neurotoxin-Induced Paralysis: A Case of Tick Paralysis in a 2-Year-Old Child

BackgroundTick paralysis is an arthropod-transmitted disease causing potentially lethal progressive ascending weakness. The presenting symptoms of tick paralysis overlap those of acute inflammatory diseases of the peripheral nervous system and spinal cord; thus, the condition is often misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary treatments and prolonged hospitalization.PatientA 2-year-old girl residing in northern New York and having no history of travel to areas endemic to ticks presented with rapidly progressing ascending paralysis, hyporeflexia, and intact sensory examination. Investigation included blood and serum toxicology screens, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and brain imaging. With all tests negative, the child's condition was initially mistaken for botulism; however, an engorged tick was later found attached to the head skin. Following tick removal, the patient's weakness promptly improved with no additional interventions.ConclusionOur patient illustrates the importance of thorough skin examination in all cases of acute progressive weakness and the necessity to include tick paralysis in the differential diagnosis of paralysis, even in nonendemic areas.     

Infant botulism in Australia — a case report

ABSTRACT. The syndrome of infant botulism was first recognised in late 1975 and the majority of cases reported have been from the United States of America. One case has been reported from the United Kingdom and one from Canada.
A three-month-old male infant from Victoria, Australia presented with constipation, marked hypotonia, limb weakness, ptosis, facial weakness and inability to suck and swallow. These abnormalities resolved and he returned to normal over the ensuing months.
A diagnosis of infant botulism was confirmed after the isolation of Clostridium botulinum type B from the faeces.
Infant botulism has now been recognised in four different countries and it is likely than with increasing awareness of this striking clinical syndrome, more cases will be identified.     

Neuromuscular disorders: relevance to anaesthesia and intensive care

Neuromuscular diseases are relatively rare but it is important for both anaesthetists and intensivists to have a working knowledge of the common diseases, as they may complicate general anaesthesia and result in neurogenic respiratory failure. The most common neurological condition seen in the intensive care unit is that of critical illness neuropathy; this subject is covered elsewhere in the journal. The diseases most commonly encountered in general anaesthetic practice include motor neurone disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, botulism, myasthenia gravis and the muscular dystrophies.     

One collective case of type A foodborne botulism in Corsica

Foodborne botulism is rare in 21st century Western Europe. The purpose of this report is to describe a collective case of type A botulism caused by ingestion of artisanal-produced food (canned green beans and/or salted roast pork). Five of the seven persons who shared the meal presented signs of severe intoxication leading to the fatal respiratory failure in one 18-year-old girl. Three patients required mechanical ventilation for durations ranging from 37 to 78 days and developed severe infectious, respiratory and/or psychiatric complications. In 4 out of the 5 patients, trivalent antitoxin was administered between days 2 and 7 but did not avoid the need for long-term intubation/mechanical ventilation. Treatment with 3,4-diaminopyridine was ineffective in the 26-year-old man who required long-term breathing assistance. This case of collective foodborne botulism illustrates the potential severity of this hazard.     

Infant botulism mimicking Hirschprung's disease

We report a case of infant botulism presenting as primary colonic ileus—mimicking Hirschprung's megacolon. Infant botulism should be considered in any infant with constipation and neurologic abnormalities.     

Botulism: a case associated with pyramidal signs

Botulism is a widespread neuroparalytic disease that may be confused with other neurological disorders. As it is potentially lethal, clinicians are required to be aware of its diagnosis and management. We report a case of botulism complicated by pyramidal signs in a 35-year-old woman. Clinical aspects, differential diagnoses and therapeutic problems are discussed.