Botulism in a Pregnant Woman

To the Editor: The anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum produces the most potent food-related toxin known to humans. 1 Although the effects of botulinum toxin are well documented, little is known about the effects of the toxin on the developing fetus. We found reports of two cases of botulism d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 335; no. 11; pp. 823 - 824
Main Authors Herman, Dan, Robin, Laura, Redett, Richard
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Massachusetts Medical Society 12.09.1996
Subjects
Biological Transport
Botulinum Toxins - metabolism
Botulism - metabolism
Female
Humans
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - metabolism
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Summary:To the Editor: The anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum produces the most potent food-related toxin known to humans. 1 Although the effects of botulinum toxin are well documented, little is known about the effects of the toxin on the developing fetus. We found reports of two cases of botulism during pregnancy, both occurring in the third trimester. 2 , 3 In the first report the pregnancy was complicated by partial placental abruption and precipitous delivery at 34 weeks' gestation; the infant had no evidence of botulism. 2 In the second report, the infant of a long-term heroin user was delivered by cesarean section at 34 . . .
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJM199609123351117