Arm abscesses caused by Clostridium botulinum

Wound botulism is an uncommon disorder that continues to be rarely reported in the United States. A 34-year-old intravenous heroin user was admitted to the Loma Linda, Calif., Veterans Administration hospital with multiple abscesses on his forearms. His clinical course was compatible with botulism, and his culture and serum were positive for Clostridium botulinum toxin type A. Early culture and/or serum identification can lead to prompt diagnosis, treatment, and improvement in the morbidity and mortality rates of this disease.