A patient with botulinum poisoning died.

SGGPO 05/25/2023 10:36

On the morning of May 25, a source from Gia Dinh People's Hospital said that after more than a week of treatment, a 45-year-old man with botulinum poisoning died of cardiac arrest, unable to use the antidote Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent (BAT) provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) as emergency aid to Vietnam.

Doctor taking care of patient with botulinum poisoning

Previously, on May 15, the patient was admitted to Gia Dinh People's Hospital in a critical condition of botulinum poisoning. While being treated in the Department of Neurology in a state of muscle paralysis, on a ventilator, and receiving antibiotics, the patient developed serious complications and had to be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit - Anti-Poisoning Unit (ICU) for treatment. Despite the doctors' efforts to treat him, the patient gradually suffered multiple organ failure, cardiac arrest, and died.

At the time of the patient’s death, the BAT antidote provided by WHO for the patient had arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. However, according to doctors, the patient had already exceeded the time limit for taking the antidote.

Also on the morning of May 25, Dr. Le Quoc Hung, Head of the Department of Tropical Diseases, Cho Ray Hospital, said that the hospital had been distributed vials of botulinum antitoxin donated by WHO to Vietnam. However, two patients aged 18 and 26 (who are brothers) being treated at Cho Ray Hospital will not be prescribed the drug because their actual health conditions no longer allow it. Currently, the patients have complete muscle paralysis and are being nourished, ventilated, and given intensive care.

Previously, on the evening of May 24, 6 vials of the rare BAT anti-botulinum toxin drug sent from the WHO warehouse in Switzerland arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (HCMC), then were transported to Gia Dinh People's Hospital. Immediately after the antidote was handed over by WHO experts, the Ministry of Health distributed 2 vials to Cho Ray Hospital, 1 vial to Gia Dinh People's Hospital and 3 vials to Children's Hospital 2.

As reported by SGGP, Ho Chi Minh City has received 6 cases of botulinum poisoning due to eating bread, pork sausage, and fish sauce. Currently, 3 patients have been given antidotes and their health has improved; the critically ill patients are on ventilators due to running out of antidotes.

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