Clostridium botulinum (Botulism)
Principles of Microbiology - Section 006
Maritzabel Barajas
Audra Melton Introduction
Botulism is an often times fatal disease which attacks the nervous system causing paralysis. (Sterba) The bacteria Clostridium Botulinum makes the neurotoxin that causes the partly deadly disease. Although the occurrence is rare, this disease is of great concern because when it happens it can have a high fatality rate. (Gale) The bacteria name comes from the Latin word “botulus” which means sausage. At the end of the 18th century in South Germany there were numerous outbreaks of sausage poisoning which started the research in defining the botulinum toxin. A German physician by the name of Justinus Kerner wrote and published …show more content…
The C. Botulinum species belongs to the Clostridium genus, Clostridiaceae family, the clostridiales order, the clostridia class and the Phylum Firmicutes in the Kingdom and Domain of Bacteria. (Gale) This bacteria causes four types of botulism: Foodborne botulism due to eating contaminated and spoiled foods. Wound botulism is cause by the growth in an open wound. Infant botulism is the growth of the toxin in the intestinal tract of infants and adult colonization is the growth in the intestinal tract adults …show more content…
However there have been sited cases of incubation periods of 4 to 8 days (CDC). The earlier a patient begins to feel symptoms, the more serious the disease. The classic symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. (Gale) Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, and have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. (Roscow) These are all symptoms due to the paralysis of the nervous system caused by the bacterial toxin. If untreated, these symptoms may progress to cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles, arms, legs, and trunk. The respiratory failure and paralysis that occur with severe botulism may require a patient to be on a breathing machine (ventilator) for weeks or months, plus extensive follow-up medical care. The paralysis will slowly and eventually improve. Botulism can be treated with an antitoxin which blocks the action of toxin circulating in the blood. If the antitoxin given before paralysis is complete, it can lessen the effects and shorten recovery time. Physicians may try to remove contaminated food still in the gut by inducing vomiting or by using enemas. Wounds should be treated, usually surgically, to remove the source of the toxin-producing bacteria followed by administration of appropriate antibiotics
Principles of Microbiology - Section 006
Maritzabel Barajas
Audra Melton Introduction
Botulism is an often times fatal disease which attacks the nervous system causing paralysis. (Sterba) The bacteria Clostridium Botulinum makes the neurotoxin that causes the partly deadly disease. Although the occurrence is rare, this disease is of great concern because when it happens it can have a high fatality rate. (Gale) The bacteria name comes from the Latin word “botulus” which means sausage. At the end of the 18th century in South Germany there were numerous outbreaks of sausage poisoning which started the research in defining the botulinum toxin. A German physician by the name of Justinus Kerner wrote and published …show more content…
The C. Botulinum species belongs to the Clostridium genus, Clostridiaceae family, the clostridiales order, the clostridia class and the Phylum Firmicutes in the Kingdom and Domain of Bacteria. (Gale) This bacteria causes four types of botulism: Foodborne botulism due to eating contaminated and spoiled foods. Wound botulism is cause by the growth in an open wound. Infant botulism is the growth of the toxin in the intestinal tract of infants and adult colonization is the growth in the intestinal tract adults …show more content…
However there have been sited cases of incubation periods of 4 to 8 days (CDC). The earlier a patient begins to feel symptoms, the more serious the disease. The classic symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. (Gale) Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, and have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. (Roscow) These are all symptoms due to the paralysis of the nervous system caused by the bacterial toxin. If untreated, these symptoms may progress to cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles, arms, legs, and trunk. The respiratory failure and paralysis that occur with severe botulism may require a patient to be on a breathing machine (ventilator) for weeks or months, plus extensive follow-up medical care. The paralysis will slowly and eventually improve. Botulism can be treated with an antitoxin which blocks the action of toxin circulating in the blood. If the antitoxin given before paralysis is complete, it can lessen the effects and shorten recovery time. Physicians may try to remove contaminated food still in the gut by inducing vomiting or by using enemas. Wounds should be treated, usually surgically, to remove the source of the toxin-producing bacteria followed by administration of appropriate antibiotics