Recurrent wound botulism among injection drug users in California. 2011

Jean Yuan, and Gregory Inami, and Janet Mohle-Boetani, and Duc J Vugia
Division of Communicable Disease Control, Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California 94804, USA.

BACKGROUND Botulism is an acute neurologic illness characterized by cranial nerve palsies and descending flaccid paralysis. Botulism is a rare disease and recurrent botulism even more rare. We review cases of recurrent wound botulism (WB) among injection drug users (IDUs) in California from 1993 through 2006 and describe 2 case patients. METHODS From botulism surveillance data for 1993-2006, we identified patients with >1 episode of clinical WB, defined as acute descending paralysis with a visible wound or recent history of injection drug use. For each patient, ≥1 of their WB episodes was laboratory confirmed. We extracted demographic, clinical, and laboratory information from case and laboratory reports and compared clinical characteristic frequency of initial and second WB episodes. RESULTS During 1993-2006, 17 IDUs had recurrent WB, 14 with 1 recurrence and 3 with 2 recurrences. Of 25 laboratory-confirmed episodes, 22 were confirmed through serum testing and 3 through wound testing. Patients were 32-61 years old, and 94% were male. All patients reported heroin injections; 88% specified black tar heroin use and 76% reported subcutaneous injection. The most common presentations were having a visible wound, speech difficulty, double vision, respiratory difficulty, and trouble swallowing. There were no significant differences in clinical presentation between initial and second episodes. CONCLUSIONS As the California epidemic of WB among IDUs continues, WB episodes are recurring. Both clinicians and IDUs should be aware of the potential for WB to recur among IDUs to enable timely diagnosis and early botulinum antitoxin administration and supportive care.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D001906 Botulism A disease caused by potent protein NEUROTOXINS produced by CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM which interfere with the presynaptic release of ACETYLCHOLINE at the NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION. Clinical features include abdominal pain, vomiting, acute PARALYSIS (including respiratory paralysis), blurred vision, and DIPLOPIA. Botulism may be classified into several subtypes (e.g., food-borne, infant, wound, and others). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1208) Botulism, Infantile,Botulism, Toxico-Infectious,Clostridium botulinum Infection,Foodborne Botulism,Infant Botulism,Toxico-Infectious Botulism,Wound Botulism,Botulism, Foodborne,Botulism, Infant,Botulism, Toxico Infectious,Botulism, Wound,Clostridium botulinum Infections,Foodborne Botulisms,Infant Botulisms,Infantile Botulism,Infection, Clostridium botulinum,Toxico Infectious Botulism,Wound Botulisms
D002140 California State bounded on the east by Nevada and Arizona, on the south by Mexico and the Pacific Ocean on the south and west, and on the north by Oregon.
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D015819 Substance Abuse, Intravenous Abuse, overuse, or misuse of a substance by its injection into a vein. Drug Abuse, Intravenous,Drug Abuse, Parenteral,Intravenous Drug Abuse,Intravenous Substance Abuse,Parenteral Drug Abuse
D055030 Drug Users People who take drugs for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. The drugs may be legal or illegal, but their use often results in adverse medical, legal, or social consequences for the users. Drug Abusers,Drug Addicts,IV Drug Users,Intravenous Drug Users,People Who Inject Drugs,Abuser, Drug,Abusers, Drug,Addict, Drug,Addicts, Drug,Drug Abuser,Drug Addict,Drug User,Drug User, IV,Drug User, Intravenous,Drug Users, IV,Drug Users, Intravenous,IV Drug User,Intravenous Drug User,User, Drug,User, IV Drug,User, Intravenous Drug,Users, Drug,Users, IV Drug,Users, Intravenous Drug

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