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A case of infant botulism associated with honey feeding in Italy

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Abstract

A case of infant botulism in a 9 week-old female is described. A strain of C. botulinum type B was isolated from the feces of the baby. The epidemiologic study detected in a sample of home canned honey Clostridium botulinum spores of the same serotype that was isolated from the patient. The honey had been used only to sweeten the pacifier of the baby. This is the first case of infant botulism in Europe linked conclusively to honey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio Alimenti, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    L. Fenicia, A. M. Ferrini & P. Aureli

  2. Clinica pediatrica, Ospedale “Burlo Garofalo”, Trieste, Italy

    M. Pocecco

Authors
  1. L. Fenicia
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  2. A. M. Ferrini
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  3. P. Aureli
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  4. M. Pocecco
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Fenicia, L., Ferrini, A.M., Aureli, P. et al. A case of infant botulism associated with honey feeding in Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 9, 671–673 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00211445

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