Botulism

Definition:

A rare but serious illness caused by toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacterium. The bacterium may enter the body through wounds, or they may live in improperly canned or preserved food.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Clostridium botulinum 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. Foods most commonly contaminated are home-canned vegetables, cured pork and ham, and smoked or raw fish. Botulism may also occur if the organism enters open wounds and produces toxin there.

Infant botulism is a special type of botulism in which living bacteria or its spores, Clostridium botulinum, are ingested and grow within the infant's gastrointestinal tract and produce a toxin responsible for the infant's symptoms. Clostridium botulinum also appears as normal flora in the stool of some infants.

Approximately 20 cases of food-borne botulism in adults and 250 cases in infants are reported per year. Respiratory failure caused by weakness in the muscles that control breathing can cause death in up to 10% of food-borne illness and 2% of infant disease.