Tetanus

 

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Original Editors - Natalie Gutmann from Bellarmine University's Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems project.

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Definition/Description

 Tetanus is an acute disease caused by the anaerobic (without oxygen), gram positive, non-capsulated spore forming bacteria Clostridium tetani. C. tetani can resist very high temperatures and is not spread from person to person. Tetanus is a rare and often fatal neurological disease that causes increased tone and muscle spasms due to the bacteria.1,2 The most common way the bacterium enters the body is through wounds which are susceptible to infection if they are: “contaminated with soil, feces, or saliva, puncture wounds including unsterile injection sites, devitalized tissue including burns, avulsions and degloving injuries”.3
The disease tetanus extends all the way back to the fifth century BC. However, it was not untill the late 1800s that the discovery of the toxins that caused tetanus had the ability to infect several species and that protection could be provided by passive transfer of an antitoxin.2 In 1924, the immunization to protect people against tetanus was developed and by 1940 the tetanus immunization has become a routine in children’s vaccinations.1

Prevalence

 In the United States, from 2000-2007 there has been an “average of 31 reported cases per year with the majority of them being over the age of 40.”4 In recent years the percent of people who contracted the bacteria to those that die from it has decreased from 30% to 10%. Since 1989 there has only been 2 reported cases of tetanus in the neonatal population.4 It is estimated that about 800,000 to one million people die of tetanus every year worldwide.1 The majority of the cases are found in underdeveloped countries with children and neonates representing most of the cases due to inadequate immunizations and unhealthy medical procedure especially during childbirth.3 The prevalence of Tetanus has been identified in males over the age of 50, women without formal education, African American of south. Recently immigrants and intravenous drug users have had a higher prevalence for contracting Tetanus. Anyone over the age of 60 are at an increases risk for contracting tetanus due to the face that they may not have received the protective immunity.1

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

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Associated Co-morbidities

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Medications

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Diagnostic Tests/Lab Tests/Lab Values

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Etiology/Causes

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Systemic Involvement

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Medical Management (current best evidence)

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Physical Therapy Management (current best evidence)

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Alternative/Holistic Management (current best evidence)

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Differential Diagnosis

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Case Reports/ Case Studies

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Resources

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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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References

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