Wound Botulism Resulting from Heroin Abuse: Can You Recognize It?

摘要

Classically, botulism toxicity is associated with improperly canned foods or ingestion of honey by an infant. Recently there has been an increased incidence of wound botulism associated with intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of street drugs, particularly heroin. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of this problem and report its typical presentation so emergency nurses can provide an effective rapid response to this emergent condition.