Presentation
Origin Indigenous Geo Schema Political Region Geo Region New Zealand Occurrence Present Origin Exotic Deprecated Name Ids '64f545c3-d7b5-462d-b8f5-20734fb8951d' was deprecated on 8-Sep-2016 Scientific Name Authority (Flügge 1886) Bergey et al. [nzor.org.nz]
Local tetanus is somewhat rare and presents with muscle contractions in a localized body region. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Entire Body System
- Wound Infection
To the best of our knowledge, the only case of C. tetani infection with a toxigenic strain but without tetanus or osteitis was a wound infection that quickly improved after administration of antitetanus vaccine, prophylactic immunoglobulins, flucloxacillin [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Access of tetanus spores to open wounds does not necessarily result in disease, especially in clean wounds where the oxygen supply is good and germination is inhibited. In necrotic or infected wounds, anaerobic conditions will permit germination. [virology-online.com]
Original publication: 1 DOUGLAS (S.R.), FLEMING (A.) and COLEBROOK (L.): Studies in wound infections. [bacterio.net]
- Weakness
Serum 24 1.24U/ml 4.9% Inter-assay Sample n Mean SD CV% Weak + Serum 10 0.22U/ml 11.3% Pos. [abcam.com]
P64 .1.w3) Inability to feed and swallow. ( J2 .6.w2, P502 .1.w5) Inability to feed, but on the second day able to swallow water given slowly into the mouth. ( J352 .27.w1) Enophthalmus. ( J2 .6.w2) Third eyelid prolapse. ( J351 .32.w1, J352 .27.w1) Weak [wildpro.twycrosszoo.org]
The primary symptom is weakness or flaccid paralysis. [web.archive.org]
Respiratoric
- Dyspnea
Patients can also experience airway compromise presenting as dyspnea and eventually airway obstruction and apnea. The patient often develops excruciating pain from these contractions which can result in tendon rupture and fractures. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Cardiovascular
- Hypotension
Morphine can also be used to manage pain and other autonomic symptoms, but it can cause hypotension. Patients with bradycardia may need a temporary pacemaker. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Neurologic
- Confusion
A tetanus and diphtheria vaccine with a pertussis booster, called the Tdap (not to be confused with DTaP) vaccine (which has a reduced dose of the diphtheria and pertussis vaccine), is recommended to replace one of the Td boosters any time between the [thevaccinemom.com]
Workup
Microbiology
- Bordetella Pertussis
Bordetella pertussis Bordetella pertussis Laboratory Testing – Immunization Status Assessment Tests Indications for Use Bordetella pertussis Antibody, IgG by Immunoblot 2004327 May be used as evidence of vaccination or past infection Test does not determine [arupconsult.com]
1 3CompletedPrevention Papillomavirus Infections 1 3CompletedPrevention Poliomyelitis 1 3CompletedPrevention Vaccines, Pneumococcal 1 3RecruitingPrevention Meningococcal Infections 1 4Active Not RecruitingBasic Science Prevention of Infections With Bordetella [drugbank.ca]
Treatment
Despite treatment with high doses of penicillin, C. tetani was isolated after 16 days of intravenous penicillin in two cases. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Pre-emptive treatment for Clostridium tetani : importance of early recognition and treatment in the community. BMJ Case Rep. 2009 ; pii: bcr03.2009.1649. [wwwnc.cdc.gov]
No immunity provided Amount of tetanospasmin is too small for immune response Treatment for Clostridium tetani Human Tetanus Immunoglobin (TIG) - neutralizes unbound toxin Treatment with Metronidazole - kills vegetative cell - no additional toxin made [proprofs.com]
Prognosis
Differential Diagnosis Encephalitis Meningitis Dystonia (congenital and acquired) Drug-induced dystonias Intracranial hemorrhage Hepatic encephalopathy Seizure Strychnine poisoning Neuroleptic malignant syndrome Prognosis The prognosis following tetanus [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
In general, with heavy wound contamination the incubation period is shorter, the disease is more severe, and the prognosis is poorer. The spores germinate under anaerobic conditions and produce tetanospasmin, a powerful toxin. [dentalcare.com]
The prognosis is dependent on incubation period, the time from spore inoculation to first symptom, and the time from first symptom to first tetanic spasm. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Prognosis : Tetanus kills about 1 out of every 5 people infected with the bacteria. 1 Resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). www.cdc.gov Medline Plus.US National Library of Medicine. [thevaccinemom.com]
Etiology
Clostridium tetani is the etiological agent of tetanus, Clostridium botulinum is the etiological agent of botulism, and Clostridium perfringens is one of the etiological agent of gas gangrene. [bacmap.wishartlab.com]
Abstract Clostridium tetani is the etiologic agent of the muscle-spasming disease tetanus. Despite an effective vaccine, tetanus is an ongoing problem in some developing countries. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Clostridium tetani, the etiologic agent of tetanus, produces a toxin that causes spastic paralysis in humans and other vertebrates. [ajtmh.org]
Epidemiology
Back to Bacteria Index Member of genus Clostridium Epidemiology There are about one million cases of tetanus reported worldwide and about 70 in the United States annually. [doctorslounge.com]
Epidemiology of tetanus in the marches region of Italy, 1992-1995. Bull. World Health Organization 1998 ;76:47-54. [ Links ] 4. Moneta G.L., Nehler M.R., Chitwood R.W., Porter J.M. [scielo.br]
Epidemiological data Frequency United States: Reported Cases 1940s - .4 cases per 100,000 population 1970s - .05 cases per 100,000 2002 - .01 per 100,000 (from: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/tetanus.pdf ) Global Reports show about 1 million [web.uconn.edu]
Epidemiology The Incidence of tetanus is 0.03 cases per 100,000 individuals. [mechpath.com]
Pathophysiology
This activity reviews the pathophysiology of Clostridium tetani and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in its management. Objectives: Describe the pathophysiology of Clostridium tetani. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The natural history, pathophysiology, and nonoperative treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. In: Rutherford RB (ed.), Vascular Surgery. Fourth edition, volume II, Philadelphia: WB Sauders, 1995. [ Links ] 5. [scielo.br]
Pathophysiology Clostridium tetani is an obligate, anaerobic, motile, gram-positive bacillus. It is nonencapsulated and forms spores that are resistant to heat, desiccation, and disinfectants. [emedicine.medscape.com]
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 69 : 292 – 301. ( 1999 ) Pathophysiological properties of clostridial neurotoxins. The Comprehensive Sourcebook of Bacterial Protein Toxins (, eds), pp. 202 – 228. [academic.oup.com]
Prevention
The disease can be prevented by immunization with tetanal toxoid and appropriate wound care. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Following these developments, Edmond Nocard determined that the tetanospasmin antitoxin induced passive immunity and can be used for treatment as well as preventative vaccination against tetanus. [bioweb.uwlax.edu]
Prevention : The best and only way to really prevent your child from getting tetanus is though vaccination. Vaccination against tetanus should be given every ten years. [thevaccinemom.com]
How Is Tetanus Prevented? Tetanus can be deadly, and is fatal to one in ten victims. The disease is, however, very preventable through vaccination. [scienceprofonline.com]
The most important objectives in the management of tetanus are: (1) neutralization of free toxin with tetanus antitoxin; (2) elimination of the source of toxin by débridement of all accessible portals of entry or by administration of antibiotics; (3) prevention [jamanetwork.com]