Scotland: Several wound botulism cases reported since February

Scotland health officials have received at least four notifications of wound botulism cases (3 confirmed and one probable) since February. The source of the infection is believed to be heroin contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores.

The first case, in NHS Fife, presented in early February 2019 and has been confirmed microbiologically. Two further cases presented in mid-late March in NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) respectively, and have also been confirmed microbiologically.

In the past few days, a further probable case from NHS Lanarkshire presented.

All cases presented with clinical features consistent with wound botulism, and all involve people who inject drugs (PWID). There have been no deaths among the identified cases.

The last confirmed case of wound botulism among PWID in Scotland was in 2017.

Botulism is a rare, potentially fatal paralytic illness caused by the neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. Wound botulism occurs when a wound is contaminated by C. botulinum spores that germinate and produce toxin inside the wound. Wound botulism in drug abusers occurs in dermal abscesses from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection (skin or muscle “popping”).