These guidelines offer evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating various forms of botulism, emphasizing prompt antitoxin administration and supportive care. The guidelines address conventional, contingency, and crisis standards of care, providing guidance for resource-limited scenarios, and a clinical criteria tool aids in early diagnosis, especially crucial during public health emergencies.

Two experts reported potential conflicts of interest related to botulism, which were reviewed and determined not to preclude participation by CDC.

This guideline provides comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for managing botulism, a rare but serious condition. Despite some limitations due to the rarity of the disease and reliance on observational studies, it offers valuable guidance for clinicians and public health professionals, particularly regarding diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment under various resource scenarios. The inclusion of a clinical criteria tool and considerations for crisis standards of care strengthens the guideline's practical applicability.