Botulism Case Defintions

• detection of botulinum toxin in serum, stool, gastric aspirate or food OR
• isolation of C. botulinum from stool or gastric aspirate

Probable Case - Clinical illness (1) in a person:

• who is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case of foodborne botulism OR
• in whom there is epidemiologic evidence of exposure to a probable food source

Wound Botulism 
Confirmed Case - Laboratory confirmation of infection:

• detection of botulinum toxin in serum AND
• presence of wound infected with C. botulinum OR
• presence of a freshly infected wound in the 2 weeks before symptoms and no evidence of consumption of food contaminated with C. botulinum

Infant Botulism
Confirmed Case - Laboratory confirmation with symptoms compatible with botulism in a person less than one year of age (2):

• detection of botulinum toxin in stool or serum OR
• isolation of C. botulinum from the patient’s stool, or at autopsy

Notes:
1. Clinical illness is characterized by diplopia, blurred vision and bulbar weakness. Symmetric paralysis may progress rapidly.
2. Clinical illness in infants is characterized by constipation, poor feeding, and failure to thrive (may be followed by progressive weakness, impaired respiration, and death.