A case of infant botulism due to neurotoxigenic Clostridium butyricum type E associated with Clostridium difficile colitis

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 21; no. 10; pp. 736 - 738
• Main Authors: FENICIA, L, DA DALT, L, ANNIBALLI, F, FRANCIOSA, G, ZANCONATO, S, AURELI, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.10.2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Botulism; Botulism - complications; Botulism - drug therapy; Botulism - microbiology; Clostridium botulinum - classification; Clostridium botulinum - drug effects; Clostridium botulinum - isolation & purification; Clostridium butyricum; Clostridium difficile; Clostridium difficile - drug effects; Clostridium difficile - isolation & purification; Colitis; Drug Therapy, Combination - administration & dosage; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - complications; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - diagnosis; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - microbiology; Enterotoxins - adverse effects; Follow-Up Studies; Food contamination; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Infectious diseases; Intestine; Male; Medical sciences; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Toxemia; Toxins; Treatment Outcome; Human; Clostridium butyricum; Clostridium difficile; Clostridiales; Infant; Infection; Case study; Association; Botulism; Clostridiaceae; Bacteriosis; Digestive diseases; Bacteria; Intestinal disease; Colitis
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-002-0816-z

Reported here is the sixth case of intestinal toxemia botulism caused by Clostridium butyricum type E in Italy since 1984. In this case, the patient was concomitantly affected with colitis due to Clostridium difficile toxin. A review of previously reported cases revealed that some of these patients may also have had intestinal toxemia botulism associated with Clostridium difficile colitis, based on the reported symptoms. Given that this association has been shown to exist not only in Italy but also in the USA, it is recommended that individuals with intestinal botulism and symptoms of colitis undergo testing for Clostridium difficile and its toxins in fecal samples.