Foodborne botulism in eastern Poland: a hospital-based retrospective study and epidemiological data review

Abstract

Foodborne botulism is a potentially fatal illness caused by consuming food with neurotropic exotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum and other species capable of producing botulinum toxins. Its incidence in Poland has decreased but new cases are still noted. The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed information on epidemiological data and clinical features of patients with botulism hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases in Lublin Province (Eastern Poland). We have retrospectively analyzed medical records from the years 2010–2018 of all patients with foodborne botulism that have been hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin. A standard case report form was completed for each patient. This form included case demographics, clinical features, botulinum testing results, and type of exposure. During the period 2010–2018, a total of 35 patients with foodborne botulism were hospitalized. Of these, 24 cases were laboratory confirmed. Males accounted for 80.0 %, and 71.4% of all cases were residents from rural areas. All patients presented with typical signs and symptoms of botulism, and in were given trivalent ABE antitoxin on admission. Toxin type B was implicated in 58.3% of cases. The most common food source was home-preserved pork meat. Stronger efforts should be made toward raising public awareness of the risk of foodborne botulism, especially with respect to home-preserved foods.