Guidance

Botulism: infection in people who inject drugs

Advice for people who inject drugs (PWID) on reducing the risk of wound botulism.

Documents

Alert poster: botulism in people who inject drugs

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Information for those giving advice on botulism in people who inject drugs

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Wound botulism is a rare and very serious bacterial infection that is acquired when spores of the botulism bacterium get into the body. The spores can be found in soil but may also be present in contaminated supplies of street drugs such as heroin.

Drug users may become infected through injecting the contaminated drugs into the skin and muscles. This document provides advice on how to reduce the risk of infection.

Updates to this page

Published 16 September 2013

Sign up for emails or print this page