Intestinal toxicoinfection by Clostridium botulinum type F in an adult. Case associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Abstract

A 27-year-old man with type F botulism (classification undetermined) had two episodes of botulinum toxaemia with identification of botulinum toxin and Clostridium botulinum organisms in faecal specimens during a three-month stay in hospital. Between these clinical episodes neither toxin nor Cl botulinum could be demonstrated. The illness was severe with quadriplegia, respiratory insufficiency, and bowel paralysis. In addition the patient had sensory abnormalities and a raised protein in the cerebrospinal fluid. The results demonstrate for the first time in detail an intestinal colonisation with and multiplication of C botulinum organisms and in-vivo production of toxin in an adult. The clinical findings at first pointed to Guillain-Barré syndrome, and it is suggested that patients with this syndrome should be examined for botulinum toxin in serum and for toxin and organisms in stool.