Rapid geographical clustering of wound botulism in germany after subcutaneous and intramuscular injection of heroin

摘要

Wound infections due to Clostridium botulinum in Germany are rare and occur predominantly in heroin injectors, especially after subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of heroin (“skin popping”, which is contaminated with spores of C. botulinum. We report a rapid geographical clustering of cases in Germany in a region between Cologne, Bonn, and Aachen with wound botulism and consecutive systemic C. botulinum intoxication in intravenous drug users (IDUs) within 6 weeks in October and November 2005.