Nine cases of foodborne botulism type B in France and literature review.
Presented here is an outbreak of nine cases of type B botulism that occurred in France in 2000 followed by a review of the relevant literature. The outbreak resulted from the consumption of home-canned asparagus and required the intubation of six patients. Despite complications, all patients recovered completely. Specific antitoxin treatment was not administered because it is no longer manufactured in France. The literature review covers the epidemiologic data reported from Europe and the USA to date and an assessment of the treatment options for botulism. The usefulness of establishing a European network to provide access to botulism antitoxins is discussed. Although their efficacy is not unanimously accepted, they remain the only specific treatment now known.
Abgueguen
P
P
Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, 4 rue Larrey, 49033 Angers 01, France. piabgueguen@chu-angers.fr
Delbos
V
V
Chennebault
J M
JM
Fanello
S
S
Brenet
O
O
Alquier
P
P
Granry
J C
JC
Pichard
E
E
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000992:Antitoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000992:Antitoxins; D001905:Botulinum Toxins