Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani, is often associated with puncture wounds that do not appear to be infected. When these bacteria enter the body, they produce a toxin that causes painful muscle contractions. Another name for tetanus is “lockjaw”. It often causes a person’s neck and jaw muscles to lock, making it hard to open the mouth or swallow

1. Tetanus
Hira Nusrat
Mphil Scholar
Department of Zoology
University of Peshawar
Hiranusrat818@gmail.com
VETERINARY VACCINOLOGY

2. Tetanus
Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani, is often
associated with puncture wounds that do not appear to be infected.
When these bacteria enter the body, they produce a toxin that causes painful muscle
contractions.
Another name for tetanus is “lockjaw”.
It often causes a person’s neck and jaw muscles to lock, making it hard to open the
mouth or swallow.
Definition Source:
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Clinical significance.
A potent neurotoxin, often referred to as tetanospasmin, is elaborated at the site of
trauma and rapidly binds to neural tissue, provoking a characteristic paralysis and
tonic spasms.
https://microbe-canvas.com/Bacteria.php?p=1316

3. Clostridium tetani
Picture Source:
https://microbe-canvas.com/Bacteria.php?p=1316
https://www.alamy.com/clostridium-tetani-anatomy-of-the-
cell-with-terminal-spore-and-vegetative-cell-structure-of-the-
terminal-spore-core-cortex-and-spore-coat-
image389237324.html

4. Causes and How it Spreads
Tetanus is an infection caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani.
Spores of tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and
manure. The spores develop into bacteria when they enter the body.
Unlike other vaccine-preventable diseases, tetanus is not spread from person to person.
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/causes-transmission.html

5. Common ways tetanus gets into your body
The spores can get into someone’s body through broken skin,
usually through injuries. Tetanus bacteria are more likely to
infect certain breaks in the skin. These include:
 Wounds contaminated with dirt, feces (poop), or saliva
(spit)
 Puncture wounds (wounds caused by an object, like a
nail or needle, breaking the skin)
 Burns
 Crush injuries (injury to a body part due to pressure
from another object or being squeezed between two
heavy objects)
 Injuries with dead tissue

6. Other ways tetanus gets into your body
Tetanus bacteria can also infect someone’s body through breaks in the skin caused by:
 Clean superficial wounds (when only the topmost layer of skin is scraped off)
 Surgical procedures
 Insect bites
 Dental infections
 Compound fractures (an exposed broken bone)
 Chronic sores and infections
 Intravenous (IV) drug use
 Intramuscular injections (shots given in a muscle)
Time from exposure to illness
The incubation period — time from exposure to illness — is usually between 3 and 21 days
(average 8 days).
However, it may range from 1 day to several months, depending on the kind of wound.
Most cases occur within 14 days. In general, doctors see shorter incubation periods with:
 More heavily contaminated wounds
 More serious disease

7. Symptoms and Complications
People often call tetanus “lockjaw” because one of the most common
signs of this infection is tightening of the jaw muscles.
Tetanus infection can lead to serious health problems, including being
unable to open the mouth and having trouble swallowing and
breathing.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tetanus include:
 Jaw cramping
 Sudden, involuntary muscle spasms — often in the stomach
 Painful muscle stiffness all over the body
 Trouble swallowing
 Seizures (jerking or staring)
 Headache
 Fever and sweating
 Changes in blood pressure and heart rate
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/symptoms-
complications.html

8. Complications
Serious health problems that can happen because of tetanus include:
 Laryngospasm (uncontrolled/involuntary tightening of the vocal cords)
 Fractures (broken bones)
 Pulmonary embolism (blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its
branches by a blood clot that has travelled from elsewhere in the body
through the bloodstream)
 Aspiration pneumonia (a lung infection that develops when things like
saliva or vomit accidentally go into the lungs)
 Breathing difficulty
Tetanus can lead to death (1 to 2 in 10 cases are fatal).

9. Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis
Doctors can diagnose tetanus by asking about recent history of cuts, scrapes,
punctures, and trauma, and examining someone for certain signs and symptoms. There
are no hospital lab tests that can confirm tetanus.
Treatment
Tetanus is a medical emergency requiring:
 Evaluation and care in the hospital
 Immediate treatment with medicine called human tetanus immune globulin
(TIG)
 Aggressive wound care
 Drugs to control muscle spasms
 Antibiotics
 Tetanus vaccination
Depending on how serious the infection is, a machine may be required to help
someone with tetanus breathe.

10. Tetanus Vaccination
Vaccination is the best way to protect against tetanus
The United States sees an average of about 30 reported cases each year. Nearly all cases of
tetanus are among people who did not get all the recommended tetanus vaccinations.
These vaccines help protect against tetanus and also provide protection against other diseases:
 DTaP protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough)
 DT protects against diphtheria and tetanus
 Tdap protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
 Td protects against tetanus and diphtheria
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/vaccination.html

11. CDC recommends tetanus
vaccines for people of all ages
The vaccine recommended for someone depends on their
age.
 Babies and young children should get five shots of
DTaP between the ages of 2 months and 6 years.
Children 6 years old and younger who should not get
whooping cough vaccines can receive DT for protection
against diphtheria and tetanus.
 Preteens should get one shot of Tdap between the ages
of 11 and 12 years.
 All adults who have never received one should get a
shot of Tdap. This can be given at any time, regardless
of when they last got Td. This should be followed by
either a Td or Tdap shot every 10 years.
 Talk to a doctor if you have questions about tetanus
vaccines.

12. Tetanus vaccines are safe
Most people who get a tetanus vaccine do not have any serious problems with it.
However, side effects can occur. Most side effects are mild, meaning they do not
affect daily activities. See the vaccine information statement for each vaccine to
learn more about the most common side effects.

13. Prevention
Vaccination and good wound care are important to help prevent tetanus infection.
Doctors can also use a medicine to help prevent tetanus when someone is seriously
hurt and isn’t up to date with tetanus vaccination.
Vaccination
Being up to date with tetanus vaccination is the best tool to prevent tetanus. Protection
from vaccines, as well as a prior infection, do not last a lifetime. This means people
who had tetanus or got vaccinated before still need to get vaccinated regularly to keep
a high level of protection against this serious disease. CDC recommends tetanus
vaccines for people of all ages, with booster shots throughout life.

14. Good wound care
Immediate and good wound care can also help prevent infection.
 Apply first aid to even minor, non-infected wounds like blisters, scrapes, or any
break in the skin.
 Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if
washing is not possible.
 Consult your doctor if you have concerns and need further advice.
Doctors may use a type of medicine called human tetanus immune globulin (TIG) for
someone who has an unclean wound and is not up to date with their tetanus vaccination.
These medicines provide immediate protection from the type of bacteria that causes
tetanus, but it is not long lasting.
Medicine
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/prevention.html

15. References
https://microbe-canvas.com/Bacteria.php?p=1316
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/causes-transmission.html
https://microbe-canvas.com/Bacteria.php?p=1316
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/symptoms-complications.html
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/vaccination.html
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/prevention.html
https://www.alamy.com/clostridium-tetani-anatomy-of-the-cell-with-terminal-spore-and-vegetative-
cell-structure-of-the-terminal-spore-core-cortex-and-spore-coat-image389237324.html