Botulism

Clostridium botulinum is the causative organism of botulism. C. botulinum is a bacterium shaped like a bat, Gram-positive, producing spores, found in soil and multiplies in the absence of oxygen.
The bacteria form spores that are responsible for its survival in a state of dormancy. The bacteria can produce seven different types of botulinum toxin, designated by the letters A to G. Only types A, B, E and F cause disease in man. Other types cause botulism in animals.
Treatment
No antibiotics are used for the treatment of botulism. In early diagnosis, foodborne botulism can be treated with an antitoxin which blocks the action of toxin circulating in the blood.
This measure prevents a worsening of the patient, but full recovery takes several weeks. Physicians may try to remove contaminated food from the patient's intestine by inducing vomiting and enemas. Respiratory problems that occur in severe cases of botulism may require that the patient be subjected to artificial respiration for several weeks. The botulinum antitoxin is not used to treat infant botulism.
Prevention
Botulism can be prevented. The foodborne botulism is caused by consumption of home canning of low acid content, such as palm, asparagus, beans, beets, corn and others. However, there are cases of botulism caused by less common foods, such as garlic oil, pepper, tomatoes, baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and tinned fish.
People who do home canning should adopt strict hygienic procedures to prevent contamination of food. Oils containing garlic or herbs should be refrigerated. Potatoes baked in foil packet must be kept warm until consumption or chilled.
As the toxin is inactivated by high temperature, people who consume home canning must boil them for 10 minutes before consumption. Honey can cause infant botulism because it may contain spores of Clostridium botulinum. Wound botulism can be prevented by prompt medical attention.
The best prevention is the consumption of canned certified. Some home canning are especially dangerous, as the palm and mushrooms.