State Will Offer Experimental Serum to Treat Infant Botulism

An experimental new treatment for infant botulism, a life-threatening, paralytic disease, will be available from the state Department of Health Services early this month.

The new therapy consists of antibodies that can neutralize the botulism toxin, which causes the disease. The antibodies were obtained from California volunteers who were immunized against the toxin.

The state will supply the treatment, known as botulism immune globulin, or BIG, free to infants and doctors as part of a study to see if the treatment works. Because the treatment is likely to be effective only if administered swiftly, the state will deliver the serum directly to the infant’s hospital bed.

The three-year study is expected to involve 150 to 200 infants. Half will receive BIG intravenously; the other half an intravenous infusion of human immunoglobulins.

California has about half of the 75 to 100 cases of infant botulism diagnosed in the United States each year, said Dr. Steve Arnon of the state health department.

Infant botulism develops when spores of the botulism bacteria reproduce in the baby’s large intestine. Such spores are found in honey, which is an unsafe food for children under a year old.

Babies with botulism develop symptoms that could represent muscle paralysis, such as a weak cry, poor feeding, loss of head control and generalized weakness. Most babies with the disease who reach the hospital survive, but often require long periods of intensive care because of respiratory failure, Arnon said.

Doctors who suspect infant botulism can seek advice and enter their patients in the study by calling (510) 540-2646 at any time, Arnon said.