Editing Clostridium botulinum (section)

== Treatment ==
In the case of a diagnosis or suspicion of botulism, patients should be hospitalized immediately, even if the diagnosis and/or tests are pending. Additionally if botulism is suspected, patients should be treated immediately with antitoxin therapy in order to reduce mortality. Immediate intubation is also highly recommended, as respiratory failure is the primary cause of death from botulism.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Witoonpanich R, Vichayanrat E, Tantisiriwit K, Wongtanate M, Sucharitchan N, Oranrigsupak P, Chuesuwan A, Nakarawat W, Tima A, Suwatcharangkoon S, Ingsathit A, Rattanasiri S, Wananukul W | title = Survival analysis for respiratory failure in patients with food-borne botulism | journal = Clinical Toxicology | volume = 48 | issue = 3 | pages = 177–183 | date = March 2010 | pmid = 20184431 | doi = 10.3109/15563651003596113 | s2cid = 23108891 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sandrock CE, Murin S | title = Clinical predictors of respiratory failure and long-term outcome in black tar heroin-associated wound botulism | journal = Chest | volume = 120 | issue = 2 | pages = 562–566 | date = August 2001 | pmid = 11502659 | doi = 10.1378/chest.120.2.562 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Wongtanate M, Sucharitchan N, Tantisiriwit K, Oranrigsupak P, Chuesuwan A, Toykeaw S, Suputtamongkol Y | title = Signs and symptoms predictive of respiratory failure in patients with foodborne botulism in Thailand | journal = The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | volume = 77 | issue = 2 | pages = 386–389 | date = August 2007 | pmid = 17690419 | doi = 10.4269/ajtmh.2007.77.386 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

In North America, an equine-derived heptavalent botulinum antitoxin is used to treat all serotypes of non-infant naturally occurring botulism. For infants less than one year of age, botulism immune globulin is used to treat type A or type B.<ref>{{Cite web | work = Health Canada |date=2012-07-18 |title=Botulism - Guide for Healthcare Professionals |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/legislation-guidelines/guidance-documents/botulism-guide-healthcare-professionals-2012.html |access-date=2023-11-01 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Investigational Heptavalent Botulinum Antitoxin (HBAT) to Replace Licensed Botulinum Antitoxin AB and Investigational Botulinum Antitoxin E |url=https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5910a4.htm |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.cdc.gov}}</ref>

Outcomes vary between one and three months, but with prompt interventions, mortality from botulism ranges from less than 5 percent to 8 percent.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Varma JK, Katsitadze G, Moiscrafishvili M, Zardiashvili T, Chokheli M, Tarkhashvili N, Jhorjholiani E, Chubinidze M, Kukhalashvili T, Khmaladze I, Chakvetadze N, Imnadze P, Hoekstra M, Sobel J | title = Signs and symptoms predictive of death in patients with foodborne botulism--Republic of Georgia, 1980-2002 | journal = Clinical Infectious Diseases | volume = 39 | issue = 3 | pages = 357–362 | date = August 2004 | pmid = 15307002 | doi = 10.1086/422318 | s2cid = 20675701 | doi-access =  }}</ref>