Clostridium tetani

Prepared by Joevani S. Peñol

• gram-positive, obligate anaerobic, spore-forming rod shape bacterium

• drumstick appearance.

MORPHOLOGY

• Heat resistant spores and usual antiseptics.

• survive autoclaving at 121°C for 10-15 minutes.

• resistant to phenol and other chemical agents.

RESISTANCE

• soil • intestine• feces of livestocks• Manure-treated soil• skin surfaces• contaminated heroin

RESISTANCE

• Organism is sensitive to heat. • Sensitive to oxygen.

SENSITIVITY

Tetanus • acute, often fatal, disease caused by an

exotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani. • rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal

muscles. • involves the jaw (lockjaw) and neck and thenbecomes generalized.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

• Enters through the wound.• Spores germinate in the presence of anaerobic

condition.• Tetanospasmin spread in through blood and

lymphatic.• Interferes with release of neurotransmitters,

blocking inhibitor impulses.

PATHOGENESIS

• 3 to 21 days• Neonatal tetanus, symptoms usually appear

from 4 to 14 days after birth

INCUBATION PERIOD

Man Suffering from Tetanus

• LOCAL (Uncommon)• CEPHALIC (Rare)• GENERALIZED (Common)

CLASSES

• persistent contraction of muscles in the same anatomic area as the injury.

• Precede the onset of generalized tetanus, but is generally milder.

• 1% of cases are fatal.

LOCAL

• Occurs with otitis media (ear infections) • Head injuries.• Involvement of the cranial nerves,

especially in the facial area.

CEPHALIC

• Trismus • stiffness of the neck and difficulty in

swallowing• rigidity of abdominal muscles.• rise of 2°-4°C above normal temp.• sweating and elevated blood pressure• episodic rapid heart rate• Spasms

GENERALIZED

• Occurs in infant• infection of the unhealed umbilical • estimated >270,000 deaths worldwide per

year.

NEONATAL TETANUS

• Tetanospasmin

VIROLENCE FACTOR

VIROLENCE FACTOR• Mechanism of Action

• Mouse inoculation

DIAGNOSIS

• Medical Management Tetanus immune globulin (TIG)Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)

• Wound Management proper immunization

PREVENTION & CONTROL

• Temporary Immunity

IMMUNITY

IMPACT TO EDUCATION & COMMUNITY