Popular Food Linked to Deadly Bacteria: Baby in Intensive Care

Kokcha News Agency: A six-month-old baby in the UK was diagnosed with infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. The case was reported in the journal Eurosurveillance, which focuses on infectious disease surveillance and control in Europe.

The baby was given peanut butter as part of a national guideline to prevent nut allergies, published in 2018. However, experts noted that nuts can be contaminated with Clostridium spores during farming or processing.

After two weeks of constipation, the baby began experiencing extreme fatigue, weak crying, and difficulty breathing. The baby, who had previously been healthy, had recently started eating solid foods.

Initially, the baby was treated with antibiotics for suspected sepsis. However, by the fifth day, severe symptoms such as drooping eyelids, loss of head control, and wheezing appeared.

Diagnosis and Treatment:
An electromyography test revealed impaired muscle function, leading doctors to suspect botulism. After consulting with experts in the U.S., doctors prescribed BIG-IV antitoxin, but the medication did not arrive at the hospital until the 10th day.

During this period, the baby developed respiratory failure and required intubation and ventilation support. By the 20th day, the baby was able to breathe independently but still needed non-invasive respiratory support for another 10 days.

Further tests confirmed that the peanut butter the baby had eaten 10 days before the onset of symptoms contained Clostridium botulinum type A. Genetic analysis confirmed that the bacteria in the jar matched those found in the baby.

The product did not contain honey and was made solely from roasted peanuts.

Infant botulism was first reported in the UK in 1977, and only 23 cases have been reported since. The disease primarily affects babies under 12 months old.

Related Incident in Italy:
Last week, a 52-year-old person in Italy died due to a botulism outbreak. Nine people were hospitalized, with two reported to be in serious condition. Authorities traced the outbreak to broccoli and hot dogs sold at a beachside food truck. The truck was seized, and an investigation was launched.