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Botulism

Definition:
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The bacterium may enter the body through wounds, or they may live in improperly canned or preserved food.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Clostridium is found in soil and untreated water throughout the world. It produces spores that survive in improperly preserved or canned food, where they produce toxin. When eaten, even minute amounts of this toxin can lead to severe poisoning.

The foods most commonly contaminated are home-canned vegetables, cured pork and ham, smoked or raw fish, and honey or corn syrup. Botulism may also occur if the organism enters open wounds and produces toxin there.

Infant botulism is a special type in which living bacteria or its spores are ingested and grow within the infant's gastrointestinal tract. The most common cause of infant botulism is from the ingestion of honey or corn syrup.

Clostridium also occurs normally in the stool of some infants.

Approximately 110 cases of botulism occur in the U.S. per year. The majority are in infants. Respiratory failure caused by weakness in the muscles that control breathing can cause death in up to 7% of food-related illness.



Review Date: 2/5/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial. (2/5/2002). Previous review: Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Masachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.(8/8/2001).

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