INFANT BOTULISM DURING A ONE-YEAR PERIOD IN SAN-LUIS, ARGENTINA

Five cases of infant botulism which occurred during the period from Ma y 1995 to May 1996 in San Luis, Argentina, are reported. Infant botuli sm was confirmed in all patients by isolation of Clostridium botulinum type A from stool culture and by the toxin assay. Toxin was found in the serum of one of them. All patients required hospitalization with t reatment consisting of supportive especially respiratory and nutrition al care. At the time of discharge from the hospital, three patients ha d a good recovery, although two of them had mild difficulties in sucki ng or constipation. C. botulinum was not detected in samples of honey which had been given to two of the patients.