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Botulism

Background

Overview

Definition
Botulism is a rare, life-threatening disease caused by the neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
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Pathophysiology
Botulism is caused by the anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium Clostridium botulinum and, rarely, by related species (Clostridium baratii and Clostridium butyricum). The botulinum neurotoxin inhibits acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle paralysis.
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Epidemiology
In 2019, the CDC has reported 219 cases of botulism in the US.
Risk factors
Risk factors for botulism include ingestion of contaminated food, bacterial colonization of a wound, or the intestines (as in infant botulism and adult intestinal colonization botulism). High-concentration cosmetic or therapeutic injections of toxin can also lead to botulism (iatrogenic botulism).
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Disease course
Clinically, botulism presents as a flaccid descending paralysis that begins with cranial nerve palsies and might progress to extremity weakness and respiratory failure. Early symptoms include blurred vision, diplopia, difficulty in focusing, ptosis, facial weakness, dysphagia, dysphonia, and dysarthria.
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Prognosis and risk of recurrence
The prognosis of botulism is generally good with appropriate medical care, which includes supportive care, intubation, mechanical ventilation when necessary, and administration of botulinum antitoxin.
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Guidelines

Key sources

The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of botulism are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC 2021).
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Screening and diagnosis

Differential diagnosis: as per CDC 2021 guidelines, suspect botulism in patients with suspected myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome and in patients with unexplained symmetric cranial nerve palsies, with or without paresis of other muscles.
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Diagnostic investigations

History and physical examination
As per CDC 2021 guidelines:
Elicit history of possible exposures to well-described sources of botulinum toxin, while keeping in mind that the absence of such exposures does not exclude the possibility of botulism.
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Perform thorough, serial neurologic examinations to detect neurologic deficits of botulism and assess their progression.
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  • Laboratory testing

  • Electrodiagnostic studies

Medical management

Contacting local or state health department: as per CDC 2021 guidelines, contact the local or state health department's emergency on-call staff immediately when botulism is suspected to arrange an emergency expert clinical consultation and, when indicated, request botulinum antitoxin.
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  • Antitoxin therapy

  • Other agents

  • Supportive care

Inpatient care

Clinical monitoring, neurologic deficits: as per CDC 2021 guidelines, obtain frequent, serial neurologic examinations with an emphasis on cranial nerve palsies, swallowing ability, respiratory status, and extremity strength. Conduct the serial neurologic and other examinations by the same healthcare provider, when possible.
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  • Clinical monitoring (respiratory compromise)

  • Clinical monitoring (hemodynamic status)

  • Clinical monitoring (other complications)

Specific circumstances

Pediatric patients
As per CDC 2021 guidelines:
Obtain close monitoring for worsening paralysis in pediatric patients with suspected foodborne botulism treated with botulinum antitoxin therapy according to the weight-based dose described in the package insert.
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Consider administering retreatment in patients with a lack of response to the treatment when confidence in the diagnosis of botulism is substantial.
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  • Pregnant patients