Clostridium Botulinum

Question 1

Physical description of clostridium

Answer 1

• G positive rods
• pairs or short chains
• sporulating
• strictly anaerobic
• found in soil

Question 2

Clinical presentation of clostridium

Answer 2

• 18 to 24hr incubation
• bilateral cranial nerve palsies with progressive descending flaccid paralysis
• death with involvement of heart, diaphragm
• dysphagia, diplopia, bilateral ptosis

Question 3

Epidemiology of clostridium

Answer 3

• heat resistant spores
• home canned foods used to be main cause
• Alaska
• entry via wounds; botox and heroin

Question 4

Infant presentation of C. botulinum

Answer 4

• replaces developing flora in gut
• floppy baby syndrome
• 2% fatal, spore survive in honey

Question 5

Pathogenesis of C. botulinum

Answer 5

• 7 serotypes; A,B,E in humans
• AB neurotoxin, from phage conversion
• B part binds to motor neuron end plates
• A part blocks release of ACh by cleaving snyaptobrevin
• flaccid muscle paralysis

Question 6

Control of C. botulinum

Answer 6

• heptavalent antitoxin injection

- no antibiotics since not infection