Professional Documents
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Respiratory compromise
Descending Paralysis[9]
Pathogenesis
Spore Ingestion or wound contamination
Germination & Toxic Production
Toxin Absorption
Neuronal Binding and Uptake
Inhibition of Neurotransmitter Release
Descending Paralysis ie. starting from head & neck
muscles and progressing to the trunk and limbs
(Respiratory muscles also get affected and result in
respiratory failure)
Recovery through regeneration of new nerve
ending[10]
Toxin: Mechanism of Action
Rapid diagnosis is
crucial for individual
recovery but
epidemiological
investigation includes
the isolation of C.
botulinum from the
patient and from
vehicle foods or other
sources of spores or
toxin and genotypic
analysis of the disease
isolates.
Moreover, MRI, CT
scan, electromyography
are used as supportive
method.[12]
Treatment & Precaution
On March 22, 2013, the FDA approved the first botulism antitoxin that can neutralize all 7 known
botulinum nerve toxin serotypes. The heptavalent antitoxin is derived from horse plasma and is the
only drug available for treating botulism in patients older than 1 year, including adults, which prevents
the toxin from causing any more harm. Antitoxin does not heal the damage the toxin has already
done. However, recovery can take several weeks to months.
For cases of food-borne botulism, health care providers sometimes clear out the digestive system by
causing vomiting and giving drugs to help you move your bowels. If you have wound botulism, a
provider may need to clean, drain or remove infected tissue in a surgery. Antibiotics are introduced to
patients.[13]
The development of antitoxin and modern medical care means that people with botulism have a much
lower chance of dying than in the past, when about 50 in every 100 people with botulism died. Today,
fewer than 5 of every 100 people with botulism die. Even with antitoxin and intensive medical and
nursing care, some people with botulism die from respiratory failure. Others die from infections or
other problems caused by being paralyzed for weeks or months. Patients who survive botulism may
have fatigue and shortness of breath for years afterward and may need long-term therapy to help them
recover.[14]
Therefore safety protocol must be followed sincerely. Common people to doctors or laboratory
technicians to people engaged in food industries must be aware of severity of the disease.
Campaigns should be held and infants need extra attention to avoid fatal consequences. Moreover,
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
To investigate & understand the causes of the disease, transmission & prevention of
botulism, a potentially deadly illness cause by toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum
bacteria.
Objectives include studying the bacterium biology, developing detection methods &
action ,its serotypes and the reasons for wide use of type A, the various indications and
contraindications of the use of botulinum neurotoxin and finally the precautions taken when
botulinum neurotoxin is used as a treatment approach.
Assess the public health impact of Clostridium botulinum , including the development of