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Published on: August 7, 2017
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Infant botulism in Denmark from 1995 to 2015
Bergitte Drivenes1, Tyra Grove Krause, Mikael Andersson
1bergittedrivenes@gmail.com.
Danish Medical Journal
|September 7, 2017
Summary
Infant botulism, a serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum, is likely underdiagnosed. Increased awareness and prompt treatment with botulism immune globulin, intravenous (BIG-IV) are crucial for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Infant botulism is a rare, potentially fatal condition caused by Clostridium botulinum toxins.
- The disease is suspected to be underdiagnosed in many regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of infant botulism in Denmark between 1995 and 2015.
- To compare Danish incidence rates with those in other Western countries.
- To evaluate diagnostic and treatment challenges.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of reported infant botulism cases in Denmark (1995-2015).
- Comparative incidence analysis with international data.
- Review of treatment protocols, including botulism immune globulin, intravenous (BIG-IV) administration timelines.
Main Results:
- Nine cases of infant botulism were identified in Denmark from 1995 to 2015.
- The incidence in Denmark was comparable to other Western countries but likely underestimated.
- Infection source was confirmed in only one case; four patients received BIG-IV within 7-10 days of admission.
Conclusions:
- Infant botulism is likely underdiagnosed, necessitating heightened clinical awareness for timely recognition.
- Delayed administration of BIG-IV presents a significant challenge.
- While BIG-IV is associated with improved outcomes in other studies, this could not be confirmed due to the small sample size in this investigation.
