A nurse is caring for a 4-month-old infant who presents with symptoms of weakness, poor feeding, constipation, and difficulty swallowing. The nurse suspects infant botulism.
Which of the following statements accurately describes infant botulism?
A nurse is caring for a 4-month-old infant who presents with symptoms of weakness, poor feeding, constipation, and difficulty swallowing. The nurse suspects infant botulism.
Which of the following statements accurately describes infant botulism?
A. Infant botulism is caused by ingestion of Clostridium tetani spores from contaminated soil.
[10%]
B. Infant botulism occurs when infants ingest spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
[66%]
C. Infant botulism is caused by ingestion of food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.
[9%]
D. Infant botulism occurs when infants inhale aerosolized particles containing botulinum toxin.
[15%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Child Health
Lesson
Neurologic
Client Need
Test Plan
Physiological Adaptation
Related Topic
Alterations in Body Systems
Item Type
Item Type
Knowledge/Comprehension
Explanation
Choice B is correct. Infant botulism is indeed caused by the ingestion of spores of Clostridium botulinum. These spores can be found in various environments, including soil, dust, and water, and can contaminate certain foods like honey, home-canned vegetables, fermented foods, and vacuum-packed items. When ingested, these spores can germinate in the infant's intestines, producing botulinum toxin and leading to the symptoms of infant botulism.
Choice A is incorrect. Infant botulism is not caused by ingestion of Clostridium tetani spores. Clostridium tetani is responsible for tetanus, not botulism.
Choice C is incorrect. Infant botulism is caused by ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores, not Salmonella bacteria.
Choice D is incorrect. While inhalation botulism is a rare form of botulism that can occur in adults, infant botulism typically occurs through ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores from contaminated food.
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2 Key Topics
Botulism
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Additional Info
✓ Infants between the ages of 2 weeks and 6 months are most susceptible to developing botulism due to their immature gastrointestinal tracts and susceptibility to colonization by Clostridium botulinum spores.
✓ Nursing care for infants with botulism focuses on providing supportive care to manage symptoms and promote recovery. This may include monitoring nutritional intake, administering fluids and electrolytes as needed, and assisting with feeding and swallowing difficulties.
