Equine antitoxin (passive immunisation)
Botulism antitoxin
Brand names: UKHSA supply
Adult dose
Dose: Per UKHSA Imported Fever Service / NPIS guidance — typically 1–2 vials IV
Route: IV (slow)
Frequency: Single dose
Clinical pearls
- UKHSA Imported Fever Service / NPIS: 24h advice line for clinical/foodborne botulism
- Notifiable disease — public health notification
- Time-critical — earlier administration improves outcomes
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to equine serum (relative — weigh risk-benefit)
Side effects
- Anaphylaxis
- Serum sickness
- Hypersensitivity reactions
Monitoring
- Anaphylaxis observation
- Serum sickness
- Recovery / progression
Reference: BNF; UKHSA Imported Fever Service; NPIS / TOXBASE; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/botulism-antitoxin/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Pathways
- Infective Endocarditis · ESC 2023 Infective Endocarditis Guidelines; NICE NG41
- Isoniazid (INH) overdose · TOXBASE/NPIS; AACT/EAPCCT; BNF
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines