WOUND BOTULISM

Wound botulism is a rare infectious and toxicologic complication of tr auma and IV drug abuse. Only 39 cases have been reported in detail in the English literature. This case report describes a patient with woun d botulism who presented to four medical facilities before receiving d efinitive diagnosis and treatment. Although his history and physical e xamination were consistent with wound botulism, diagnosis and therapy were delayed because this rare disease was not considered initially in the differential diagnosis. Wound botulism should be considered in tr auma patients and IV drug abusers who present with cranial nerve palsi es and descending paresis.