infectious diseases
Infant Botulism
Treatment of Infant Botulism
Human botulism immune globulin Infants are hospitalized, and supportive care (eg, ventilatory support) is given as needed. Because the organism and toxin are excreted in the stool for weeks to months after symptom onset, appropriate contact precautions must be followed. Treatment of infant botulism is started as soon as the diagnosis is suspected; waiting for confirmatory test results, which may take days, is dangerous. Specific treatment of infant botulism is with human botulism immune globulin (BabyBIG), which is available from the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP—call 510-231-7600 or visit theIBTPPweb site). This antitoxin is derived from pooled human donors who have high titers of antibodies to A and/or B toxin. The dose of human botulinum immune globulin is 50 mg/kg IV, given slowly. The horse serum heptavalent antitoxin used in adults is not recommended for infants < 1 year of age. Antibiotics are not given because they may lyseC. botulinumin the gut and increase toxin availability. 