SFDPH Health Alert: Wound Botulism in Injection Drug User December 17, 2013 Public Health, SF Dept of Public Health botulism, health alert, SFDPH 0 Wound botulism has been confirmed in one injection drug user in San Francisco. Symptoms began 11/30/2013. Additional cases may occur. Because this condition is quickly progressive and life threatening, SFDPH is alerting clinicians and requesting they follow these recommendations. Actions requested of all clinicians: Be alert for cases of wound botulism especially in injection drug users. Report suspect cases to Communicable Disease Control Unit (CDCU) at 415-554-2830. CDCU staff can facilitate release of antitoxin. Consider Neurology and Infectious Disease consultation. Conduct a thorough search for a wound, and consider surgical consultation. Obtain serum for toxin assays (in serum separator tubes). Instructions for specimen collection may be found at http://sfcdcp.org/botulism.html. Warn patients who inject drugs about wound botulism and inform them of symptoms, the need to seek medical care promptly, and prevention methods. Because of a higher risk of tetanus in injection drug users, provide tetanus vaccine every 5 years. Click here to view the SFDPH clinician notification as well as flyers that can be posted. Comments are closed.
