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Clostridium Botulism

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All around us are microorganisms that are too small to be seen with the human eye. These organisms are also found on the skin and in the internal organs of humans. There are microbes that help with the digestion of food and protect us and other organisms from harm. Others, however, are very deadly. One such organism is botulism. This deadly assassin waits hiding until conditions are optimal to appear, with symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as other medical disorders. It all started with a sausage, well maybe. Clostridium botulinum is the scientific name for a gram-positive rod shaped anaerobic bacteria that when needed can form an endospore and wait until conditions are right to emerge. Endospores can survive in a dormant state for long periods of time and botulism is no exception. Somewhere around the 10th century blood sausages were banned after several people who had eaten them caught a case of food poisoning, this could have been botulism. Health codes in the ancient world were not as strict as they are today and it’s possible that botulism has infected people …show more content…

It is found in soil and on vegetables. It is also found in corn syrup, honey, damaged canned goods, and improperly canned meats. Children under the age of one should never eat corn syrup or honey for this reason and vegetables should be cleaned and cooked at the proper temperature to ensure the bacteria is unable to do harm. When preparing foods for canning make sure jars are cleaned and sealed properly using either the boiling water method or preferably the pressure cooking method. Botulism cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted; however, when it breaks down proteins it releases a foul odor. If present in canned goods the can will have a bulging appearance. Another way for botulism to enter the body is thru an open wound. Entry from wounds occurs when an open wound is exposed to botulism either by soil or other surfaces that contain botulism spores

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