Tetanus in patients with chronic wounds - are we aware?

Number of tetanus toxoid injections before birth and associated factors among pregnant women in low and middle income countries: Negative binomial poisson regression

BACKGROUND

In low- and middle-income countries where vaccination rates are low, tetanus is still an important threat to public health. Although maternal and neonatal tetanus remains a major global health concern, its magnitude and determinates are not well studied. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the number of tetanus toxoid injections and associated factors among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS

Data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys, which covered 60 low- and middle-income countries from 2010 to 2022, was used for secondary data analysis. The study included a total of 118,704 pregnant women. A statistical software package, STATA 14, was used to analyze the data. A negative binomial regression of a cross-sectional study was carried out. Factors associated with the number of tetanus vaccinations were declared significant at a p-value of < 0.05. The incidence rate ratio and confidence interval were used to interpret the results. A model with the smallest Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion values and the highest log likelihood was considered the best-fit model for this study.

RESULTS

In low- and middle-income countries, 26.0% of pregnant women took at least two doses of the tetanus toxoid vaccine. Factors such as maternal education, primary (IRR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.26), secondary (IRR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.23), higher (IRR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.20), employment (IRR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.13), 1-3 ANC visits (IRR = 2.49, 95% CI: 2.41, 2.57), ≥4 visits (IRR = 2.94, 95% CI: 2.84, 3.03), wealth index (IRR = 1.06; 95% CI: 11.04, 1.08), ≥birth order (IRR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.27), distance to health facility (IRR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.03), and health insurance coverage (IRR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.10) had a significant association with the number of tetanus vaccinations among pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This study concludes that the number of tetanus toxoid vaccinations among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries is low. In the negative binomial model, the frequency of tetanus vaccinations has a significant association with maternal employment, educational status, wealth index, antenatal care visits, birth order, distance from a health facility, and health insurance. Therefore, the ministries of health in low and middle-income countries should give attention to those women who had no antenatal care visits and women from poor wealth quantiles while designing policies and strategies.

Autopsy of tetanus with foot gangrene as portal of entry

Non-traumatic chronic skin lesions are the second most common cause of tetanus. Herein, we describe an 85-year-old woman who presented with a chronically infected skin lesion. She developed tetanus while in hospital and died of respiratory failure, after refusing mechanical ventilation. Routine immunization against tetanus began in Japan during 1968; hence many people born before 1968 are unvaccinated. Mortality due to tetanus is high and the proportion with protective antibodies is low in older adults. Therefore, we recommend tetanus vaccination for older persons in Japan who have chronic skin lesions and have never been vaccinated.

Do patients with diabetic foot ulcer need booster dose of tetanus vaccine?

Purpose

Diabetic foot ulcer is a public health concern around the world. These wounds are prone to a variety of infections including Clostridium Tetani that may lead to tetanus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunity status as a result of tetanus vaccination and other preventive measures in these patients.

Methods

We conducted a narrative review of previous studies which were related to the risk of tetanus infection in diabetic foot patients by searching electronic databases.

Results

It was found that usually tetanus antibody titers in diabetic patients are below the protective level and they are not appropriately vaccinated. Therefore, diabetes and lack of immunity, put diabetic foot ulcer patients more at risk of tetanus. But this problem is not given serious attention in diabetes care.

Conclusions

Thus, it is recommended to provide specific guidelines for tetanus vaccination and prophylaxis in diabetic patients. These recommendations can play a vital role in the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers complication.

Temporal trends in tetanus incidence and lethality in Brazil: analysis of the national database from 2009 to 2018

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological and hospital characteristics of cases and deaths due to accidental tetanus in Brazil.

METHODS

A time-series study with secondary data extracted from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System. The time series were evaluated by linear regression parameters, considering a significance level of 1%.

RESULTS

A total of 2,772 cases were reported between 2009-2018. Predominant cases were men and aged between 40-59 years old, with incomplete 1st-4th grade. The lethality rate was found to be predominant in women, whites, illiterates, and those who aged above 80 years. The overall lethality was 32.5%. The incidence rate reduced from 1.6 in 2009 to 0.95 per million inhabitants in 2018, but lethality increased from 30.77-40.70%. The highest rate of incidence and lethality occurred in the elderly people and in the northern region.

CONCLUSION

The high cost and lethality of tetanus configure it as a public health problem. The demonstration of the epidemiology of patients who most evolve to death can help to contribute to a reduction in lethality, which shows an increase in the analysis period. Finally, special attention should be given to the elderly people and those living in the northern region.

Non-surgical treatment of tetanus infection associated with breast cancer skin ulcer: a case report and literature review

Background

Previous studies have reported poor prognosis in cases of tetanus that develops after bacteria enters via breast cancer-related skin ulcers that are not treated with surgical debridement. Herein, we review the literature concerning this presentation and report the first case of complete remission from tetanus without surgical debridement of the skin ulcer.

Case presentation

An Asian woman aged over 60 years had a history of skin ulcer caused by breast cancer. She was diagnosed with tetanus due to trismus and opisthotonus. Based on the suspicion that the skin ulcer was the portal of entry for tetanus bacteria, we considered several debridement and thoracic surgical options for tetanus treatment. However, debridement was not performed as the surgery was considered high risk and the patient did not consent to it. The patient received treatment with anti-tetanus globulin and metronidazole; sound insulation and shielding were also performed in a dark room. Subsequently, the patient’s symptoms improved, and sound insulation and deep sedation management were completed on 19th day of hospitalization. With no symptom recurrence, the patient was discharged on Day 54. To date, over 3 years after treatment, no evidence of tetanus recurrence has been observed. The case was characterized by a lack of autonomic hyperactivity. The tetanus severity was likely representative of the low amount of toxin that the patient was exposed to.

Conclusion

This case involved moderate severity tetanus originating from a chronic skin ulcer related to breast cancer. The patient survived without undergoing extensive debridement. No evidence of tetanus relapse was observed during the follow-up period, likely due to vaccination that might have restored the patient’s active immunity. Debridement is not always necessary for tetanus complicated by breast cancer skin ulcers. Furthermore, appropriate toxoid vaccination is critical for preventing the onset and recurrence of tetanus in these patients.

Severe tetanus following ulcerated skin cancer: Case report

RATIONALE

Tetanus is usually caused by wound infection with Clostridium tetani after acute injuries. Skin cancer wound is a rarely reported cause of tetani infection. It is difficult to be diagnosed and mistaken for other brain lesions.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 49-year-old man presenting with the only symptom of repeated convulsions was admitted to our department. He had an ulcerated skin cancer on the right buttock that had been excised in another hospital 1 month before admission, leaving the wound unhealed. He was suspected of having a metastatic brain tumor early, but exhibited a negative cranial CT-scan.

DIAGNOSIS

Tetanus was diagnosed when he was observed to have sudden convulsions after sensory stimulation such as noise, light, or touch.

INTERVENTIONS

Despite administration of a high dose of diazepam and phenobarbitone, continuous generalized rigidity with laryngospasm still occurred. Instead, when propofol was intravenously infused, the spastic convulsion completely stopped. Tracheotomy and mechanical ventilation were performed.

OUTCOMES

The patient gradually recovered in 2 weeks.

LESSONS

Tetanus is rarely infected through the wound of an ulcerated skin cancer. Early diagnosis can only be based on accurate assessment of clinical manifestations, and propofol infusion appears to be more effective in anti-convulsion management for patients with tetanus. Routine vaccination to prevent tetanus in patients with ulcerated skin cancer should be considered in the future clinical work.

Treatment preferences in Turkey for open fracture of the tibial diaphysis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate different treatment methods employed by orthopedic surgeons for open tibial fracture in adults.

METHODS

Survey of 12 questions regarding treatment of open tibial fracture was conducted with 285 orthopedics and traumatology specialists in Turkey in personal interviews and using web-based technique.

RESULTS

Of all survey participants, 99.6% responded that tetanus prophylaxis is necessary emergency procedure in cases of adult open tibial diaphysis fracture. In addition, 96.5% considered antibiotics administration necessary, 85.6% also selected irrigation with saline, 55.4% included debridement, and 45.3% temporary fixation. Only 4 (1.3%) respondents did not use aminoglycoside antibiotics. While 29.8% of those surveyed preferred external fixator as a definitive treatment method, 75.8% use intramedullary nail and 13.7% preferred plate method.

CONCLUSION

A wide variation was observed among orthopedics and traumatology specialists in Turkey regarding treatment of open tibial diaphysis fracture in adults. Data obtained from this study together with the available literature may be useful to further develop therapeutic approaches.

Is there any difference in tetanus IgG levels of diabetic patientswith respect to the presence of foot ulcers?

BACKGROUND/AIM

The aim of this study was to reveal the tetanus immunization status of diabetic patients and to determine whether diabetic patients with foot ulcers have different TIG levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was designed that included diabetic patients with foot ulcers (n = 30) and diabetic patients without ulcers (n = 30). The groups were compared for serum TIG levels along with total serum protein, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and total immunoglobulin G (Ig G).

RESULTS

For diabetic patients without foot ulcers, 17 of 30 (56.6%) patients were found to have nonprotective TIG levels whereas for diabetic patients with foot ulcers, 28 of 30 (93.3%) patients were found to have nonprotective TIG levels. The mean value of TIG for diabetic patients without foot ulcers was 0.345 ± 0.281 IU/mL and for diabetic patients with foot ulcers the mean TIG value was 0.055 ± 0.033 IU/mL. Statistically significant differences were observed in TIG (P = 0.008), total protein (P < 0.001), albumin (P < 0.001), and CRP levels (P < 0.001) between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The majority of the diabetic patients had low TIG levels and they were significantly lower in diabetic patients with ulcers. A booster dose of tetanus vaccine should be considered for diabetic patients with and without diabetic foot ulcers.

Tetanus after envenomations caused by freshwater stingrays

Injuries caused by freshwater stingray are common in several regions of South America, although they are underreported. The riverside inhabitants are the main victims in the Amazonian and Midwest regions of South America. The fishermen are injured mainly in the new focus of colonization of the rivers by freshwater stingrays. With the increasing population in these regions, where freshwater stingrays are found, there has been a significant increase in injuries within the general population. The highest increase occurred among tourists from other regions, where these animals are not known, when visiting these areas. The envenomations from the stingray causes prolonged and intense pain, both local and regionally. Generally these are associated with other local inflammatory manifestations, such as swelling and erythema. The injury often progresses to necrosis and it is considered potentially tetanogenic. A secondary infection is also a frequent local complication and most frequently is caused by Aeromonas species, usually Aeromonas hydrophila. Herein we report the first 2 cases of tetanus after freshwater stingray injuries: a 51-year-old men who had tetanus and recovered without sequel and the second a 67-year-old men who had severe tetanus and a deep, necrotizing soft-tissue infection with sepsis, septic shock and evolution to death.