title: Infant botulism with prolonged faecal excretion of botulinum neurotoxin and Clostridium botulinum for 7 months.
abstract: In Finland in April 2010, a 3-month old baby was diagnosed with type A infant botulism. He excreted botulinum neurotoxin and/or Clostridium botulinum in his faeces until November 2010. Five months of excretion was after clinical recovery and discharge from hospital. C. botulinum isolates recovered from the household dust in the patient's home were genetically identical to those found in the infant's stool samples. Long-term faecal excretion of C. botulinum may pose a possible health risk for the parents and others in close contact with the infant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Derman
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korkeala
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lönnqvist
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saxen
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindström
mesh_terms: D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D001906:Botulism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D047013:Clostridium botulinum type A / Q000502:physiology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A