A recent reminder of botulism.
Botulism is a rare yet potentially common form of food poisoning that can be fatal. (1) Few documented cases of botulism exist in Australia (2,3,4) and New Zealand (5), emphasising how infrequently it is encountered. The recent admission to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a man suspected of having botulism was a timely reminder of just how dangerous this condition can be. This paper will review the contemporary knowledge and interventions necessary in the management of botulism. It will also utilise anecdotes from our recent experience to illustrate some of the clinical scenarios and potentially fatal complications seen in this condition.
Williams
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D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology