Botulism
Basics
Description
- A paralytic illness caused by a neurotoxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum
- Characterized by acute onset of cranial nerve dysfunction (diplopia, difficulty swallowing or speaking), symmetric descending weakness, and flaccid paralysis
- Eight antigenic types of C. botulinum (A to H). Types A, B, E, and, in rare cases, F, cause disease in humans.
- Forms include (1):
- Foodborne: ingestion of preformed toxin
- Infant botulism: caused by ingestion of C. botulinum that produces toxin in the GI tract
- Wound: caused by wound infection with C. botulinum and subsequent toxin secretion
- Aerosolized/inhalational botulism: bioterrorist weapon with high toxicity; <1 μg is lethal human dose; not known to occur naturally
- Adult intestinal toxemia: similar to infant botulism; rare in adults
- Iatrogenic: injection of toxin for cosmetic or therapeutic (spastic neuromuscular disorders, glandular hypersecretion, pain) effect
- System(s) affected: neuromuscular, respiratory, GI
- Synonym(s): sausage poisoning; Kerner disease
Epidemiology
Incidence
- 205 confirmed cases in the United States in 2016, with three deaths: two foodborne, one unknown (2)
- 73% of cases were infant botulism, 14% were foodborne, 12% were wound related, and 1% were due to unknown etiologies (2).
- No person-to-person transmission documented (2)
Prevalence
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- C. botulinum is an anaerobic gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacillus.
- Eight distinct toxin types: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H
- A, B, E, and F cause disease in humans.
- Disease results from ingestion of Clostridium, followed by local toxin production in GI tract (e.g., from home-canned vegetables).
- Infantile botulism due to ingestion of spores in environment or foods (e.g., honey)
- Wound contamination with toxin-producing C. botulinum can produce clinical disease with hematogenous spread of toxin.
- The toxin inhibits acetylcholine release at presynaptic membranes, blocking neuromuscular transmission and causing paralysis.
Risk Factors
- Foodborne: ingestion of home-canned or prepared foods that are contaminated
- Infantile: ingestion of environmental spores; ingestion of honey (minor but preventable source)
- Immunocompromised state
- Wound: IV drug use (black tar heroin), “skin popping,” snorting cocaine
General Prevention
- Foodborne: proper handling, processing, preparation (heating), and storage of food; avoid eating from bulging cans or unprepared/underprepared food (1).
- Infant: caretaker hand washing. Avoid honey in infants <1 year of age (1).
- Wound: proper wound care; abstain from injection drug use or snorting cocaine (1).
- Health care providers: universal precautions (1)
- If meningitis is suspected in patients with flaccid paralysis, use droplet precautions (1).
- Raking soil and algae to introduce oxygen prevents spore development.
- Heat food or drink to internal temperature of 85°C for at least 5 minutes (1).
- After exposure to C. botulinum toxin, clean clothing and skin with soap and water (1).
- Clean contaminated objects or surfaces with 0.1% bleach solution. Promptly discard all potentially contaminated food (1).
- Vaccination has been discontinued (1).
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Botulism." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688566/all/Botulism.
Botulism. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688566/all/Botulism. Accessed December 12, 2024.
Botulism. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688566/all/Botulism
Botulism [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 12]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688566/all/Botulism.
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