Clostridium tetani

Prepared by Joevani S. Peñol

 MORPHOLOGY
• gram-positive, obligate anaerobic,
spore-forming rod shape bacterium
• drumstick appearance.
 RESISTANCE
• 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
 SENSITIVITY
• Organism is sensitive to heat.
• Sensitive to oxygen.
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
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 then
becomes generalized.
 PATHOGENESIS
• 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.
INCUBATION PERIOD
• 3 to 21 days
• Neonatal tetanus, symptoms usually appear
from 4 to 14 days after birth
Man Suffering from Tetanus
 CLASSES
• LOCAL (Uncommon)
• CEPHALIC (Rare)
• GENERALIZED (Common)
 LOCAL
• 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.
 CEPHALIC
• Occurs with otitis media (ear infections)
• Head injuries.
• Involvement of the cranial nerves,
especially in the facial area.
 GENERALIZED
• 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
 NEONATAL TETANUS
• Occurs in infant
• infection of the unhealed umbilical
• estimated >270,000 deaths worldwide per
year.
VIROLENCE FACTOR
• Tetanospasmin
VIROLENCE FACTOR
• Mechanism of Action
 DIAGNOSIS
• Mouse inoculation
 PREVENTION & CONTROL
• Medical Management
 Tetanus immune globulin (TIG)
Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)
• Wound Management
proper immunization
 IMMUNITY
• Temporary Immunity
IMPACT TO EDUCATION &
COMMUNITY