Adverse Effects Linked to Counterfeit or Mishandled Botulinum Toxin Injections [April 23 2024, 11:00 AM ET]

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). Health Alert Network (HAN)
• Description:
  April 23 2024, 11:00 AM ET
  
  CDCHAN-00507
  
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert clinicians about risks of counterfeit or mishandled botulinum toxin injections. CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local partners are investigating clusters of 22 people in 11 U.S. states reporting adverse effects after receiving injections with counterfeit botulinum toxin or injections administered by unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes or spas. Eleven patients were hospitalized and none have died. When botulinum toxin diffuses around the injection site, it can result in adverse effects. Botulism is the disease caused by botulinum toxin circulating in the blood and producing effects remotely from the injection site. There may be symptom overlap between the presentation of localized adverse effects from injection of botulinum toxin, especially in the head and neck, and the early symptoms of botulism. Information about the botulinum toxin injection (e.g., dose) can help distinguish between botulism and localized adverse effects but is challenging to obtain for counterfeit products. Clinicians and health departments should consider the possibility of adverse effects from botulinum toxin injections in patients presenting with localized paralysis. Clinicians should immediately contact their state, tribal, local, or territorial health department if they suspect botulism.
  
  
• Content Notes:
  Notice of Possible Alert Expiration: The CDC Health Alert, Advisory, Update, and Info Service announcements, distributed by the Health Alert Network (HAN), were active on the date they were originally published. Publication dates have been added to Titles for clarity. A CDC Health Alert, Advisory, Update, and Info Service announcement may expire at any time. They may also be updated or superseded according to later developments. None of the CDC Health Alert, Advisory, Update, or Info Service announcements in the Stacks HAN Collection should be assumed to be current or active. Stacks preserves HAN announcements in order to maintain a record of past CDC actions. Stacks in not designed for up-to-the-minute notifications. For the list of current CDC Health Alert, Advisory, Update, or Info Service announcements, patrons should visit the Health Alert Network (HAN) webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/about/index.html. For up to the minute reports, subscribe to the HAN email alert system hosted by CDC News & Updates at https://tools.cdc.gov/campaignproxyservice/subscriptions.aspx?topic_id=USCDC_486
  
  Categories of Health Alert Network (HAN) messages:
  
  Health Alert: Requires immediate action or attention, highest level of importance.
  
  Health Advisory: May not require immediate action; provides important information for a specific incident or situation.
  
  Health Update: Unlikely to require immediate action; provides updated information regarding an incident or situation.
  
  HAN Info Service: Does not require immediate action; provides general public health information.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Botulinum Toxins, Type A Cosmetic Techniques Humans Injections, Intradermal Neuromuscular Agents
• Keywords:
  HAN Health Alert Network
• Source:
  HAN ; 507
• Series:
  Health Alert Network
• Subseries:
  CDC Health Advisory
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Alert
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Colorado ; Florida ; Illinois ; Kentucky ; Nebraska ; New Jersey ; New York City, NY ; Tennessee ; Texas ; Washington
• Rights:
  Public Domain
• Issue:
  00507
• Collection(s):
  Health Alert Network (HAN)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:970199841e659a01d280bea5b97eabf7507365117f41bb7c61a293fda55a47aa5545b23d381517fbb929db5895c7fa9d19141b2cc006d29fe08f6412ffa5c2cd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/154510/cdc_154510_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 121.33 KB ]