Infant Botulism—New York City, 2001-2002

Abstract

Infant botulism results from germination of swallowed spores of botulinum toxin-producing clostridia that colonize the large intestine temporarily. Four cases of type B infant botulism in one New York City (NYC) borough were diagnosed within a 12-month period during 2001-2002. All four patients resided in Staten Island (2000 population: 443,728). The annual incidence of infant botulism in the United States is two cases per 100,000 live births; incidence in NYC is four cases per 100,000 live births. Staten Island recorded 5,899 live births in 2000; incidence of infant botulism during this 12-month period was 68 cases per 100,000 live births. This report summarizes the investigation of these four cases; as expected with infant botulism, a common source of exposure was not identified. All four patients recovered after treatment and were discharged from local hospitals. State and local health departments should be notified promptly when infant botulism is suspected to arrange diagnostic testing.