Patients with severe accidental tetanus admitted to an intensive care unit in Northeastern Brazil: clinical-epidemiological profile and risk factors for mortality

Abstract Introduction Tetanus, an acute infectious disease, is highly prevalent worldwide, especially in developing countries. Due to respiratory failure and hemodynamic instability associated with dysautonomia, severe cases require intensive care, but little has been published regarding the management in the Intensive Care Unit. Objective To draw a 10-year clinical–epidemiological profile of Intensive Care Unit patients with severe tetanus, observe their evolution in the Intensive Care Unit and identify risk factors for mortality. Methods In this retrospective study, we used a standardized questionnaire to collect information from the records of patients with severe tetanus admitted to the intensive care unit of a referral hospital for infectious and contagious diseases in Northeastern Brazil. Results The initial sample included 144 patients, of whom 29 were excluded due to incomplete information, leaving a cohort of 115 subjects. The average age was 49.6 ± 15.3 years, most patients had no (or incomplete) vaccination against tetanus, and most were male. The main intensive care-related complications were pneumonia (84.8%) and dysautonomia (69.7%). Mortality (44.5%) was higher than expected from the mean APACHE II score (11.8), with shock/multiple organ failure as the main cause of death (72.9%). The independent factors most predictive of mortality were APACHE II score, dysautonomia, continuous neuromuscular blockade and age. Conclusion A high mortality rate was observed in our cohort of Intensive Care Unit patients with severe tetanus and a number of risk factors for mortality were identified. Our results provide important insights for the development of intervention protocols capable of reducing complications and mortality in this patient population.

Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes com tétano acidental em unidade de terapia intensiva / Perfil epidemiológico de pacientes con tétano accidental en la unidad de cuidados intensivos / Epidemiological profile of patients with accidental tetanus in the intensive care unit

A tendência dos casos de tétano acidental é para uma redução, entretanto a doença apresenta-se ainda com alto índice de letalidade. Diante dessa situação, objetivou-se descrever o perfil epidemiológico e clínico dos casos de tétano acidental internados em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) em Fortaleza, Ceará, e levantar a incidência de óbitos pela doença. Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, tipo série de casos, com 94 pacientes internados na UTI entre 2003 e 2009. Os dados foram coletados em formulário previamente elaborado. A análise foi univariada. Houve predomínio do sexo masculino (83), na faixa etária adulta jovem(20 a 49 anos), procedentes da capital, casados (55) e com ensino fundamental completo e incompleto. Em 47 casos a lesão ocorreu em membros inferiores e em 52 casos a injúria foi ocasionada por ferimento perfurante. As manifestações clínicas mais presentes foram: trismo,77 casos, e disfagia, 57 casos. Dos avaliados, 39 evoluíram a óbito. Concluiu-se que o tétano acidental, no Ceará, apresenta letalidade elevada.

The trend of cases of neonatal tetanus is assumed to reduce, however, the disease still presents a high mortality rate. Given this situation, the objective of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of cases of tetanus admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in the northeastern state of Ceará, Brazil and to raise the incidence of deathsfrom the disease. This is a descriptive study, retrospective case series of 94 patients admitted between 2003 and 2009. The data was collected through a form previously elaborated. At unvaried analysis, there was male predominance (83), aged young adults (20 to 49 years), coming from the capital, married (55) and with complete primary education and incomplete. In 47 cases the injury occurred in the lower limbs and in 52 cases the injury was caused by puncture wound. The clinical present features were: trismus, and dysphagia in 77 cases, 57 cases. Of the studied 39 died. It was concluded that the tetanus, in Ceará, presents highmortality rate.

La tendencia de casos de tétano accidental indica una reducción, sin embargo, la enfermedad todavía presenta una alta tasa de mortalidad. Ante esta situación, se objetivó describir el perfil clínico y epidemiológico de los casos de tétano accidental ingresados en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI), en Fortaleza, Ceará y registrar la incidencia de muertes por la enfermedad. Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo de series de casos, con 94 pacientes ingresados en una UCI entre 2003 y 2009. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de un formulario previamente elaborado. El análisis fue univariado. Hubo predominio de varones (83), congrupo de edad adulta joven (20 a 49 años), procedente de la capital, casados(55) y con educación primaria completa e incompleta. En 47 casos se produjo la lesión en las extremidades inferiores y en 52 casos la lesión fue causada por herida penetrante. Las manifestaciones clínicas más presentes fueron: el trismo, en 77 casos, y la disfagia, en 57 casos. De los evaluados, 39 fueron a óbito. Se concluye que el tétano occidental, en Ceará, presenta alta tasa de mortalidad.

Tendência temporal do tétano acidental no período de 1981 a 2004 em Pernambuco com avaliação do impacto da assistência em unidade de terapia intensiva sobre a letalidade / Mortality trend due to accidental tetanus from 1981 to 2004 in Pernambuco and analysis of the impact on intensive care unit attendance

Apesar da redução na incidência de tétano acidental no Brasil, não houve queda significativa na letalidade. Nesta série de casos, comparamos a letalidade antes e após o estabelecimento padrão de manejo em unidade de terapia intensiva do paciente com tétano no Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz, no período de 1981 a 2004. Em 24 anos, foram internados 1.971 pacientes e antes do manejo em Unidade de terapia intensiva a letalidade era de 35 por cento. Durante 1997 foi instituída a unidade de terapia intensiva para assistência dos pacientes com tétano, e de 1998 a 2004, a letalidade caiu para 12,6 por cento, OR= 0,27 (IC95 por cento= 0,18- 0,39); p<0,001. Esta tendência foi evidenciada em todas as faixas etárias e em ambos os sexos. A centralização da assistência a esses pacientes em um único serviço especializado com Unidade de terapia intensiva de forma precoce, portanto, tem sido decisiva na redução da letalidade, por contar com a vasta experiência da equipe de saúde no manejo do tétano e melhor tratamento sintomático, antecipando as graves complicações da doença.

Despite reductions in the incidence of accidental tetanus cases in Brazil, there has not been any significant decrease in its mortality. In this case series, the mortality rates before and after establishing standard management practices for tetanus patients in the intensive care unit at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital are compared over the period from 1981 to 2004. Over these 24 years, 1.971 patients were admitted. Before establishing the intensive care unit management, the mortality rate was 35 percent. The Intensive care unit for attending to tetanus patients was established in 1997. From 1998 to 2004, the mortality rate fell to 12.6 percent: OR = 0.27 (95 percent CI = 0.18-0.39); p < 0.001. This trend was seen in all age groups and both sexes. The centralization of attendance for these patients into a single specialized service with early treatment in an intensive care unit has therefore been decisive in reducing the mortality rate. This service can count on the medical team's vast experience of tetanus management, with better treatment of symptoms that forestalls the serious complications from this disease.

Tétano acidental no Estado do Ceará, entre 2002 e 2005 / Accidental tetanus in the State of Ceará, between 2002 and 2005

Descrevem-se as características demográficas e clínicas de indivíduos com tétano acidental no Ceará. Analisou-se, retrospectivamente, 131 casos de tétano acidental notificados em hospital de referência estadual entre 2002 e 2005. Destes, a maioria (84,8 por cento) ocorreu entre homens e em moradores da zona urbana (93,2 por cento). A faixa etária com maior incidência foi a de 35 a 49 anos (35,2 por cento). História vacinal completa esteve relatada em quatro (3 por cento) casos, sendo ferimento perfurocortante o mais observado, e os membros inferiores os mais acometidos. O trismo esteve relacionado a 86,2 por cento dos casos, seguido por contraturas (54,1 por cento). Entre os notificados houve 95,5 por cento confirmados, cujo óbito incidiu em 33 (26,4 por cento) pacientes. Conclui-se que o tétano acidental no Ceará atinge a população de maneira expressiva, apesar de ser uma doença imunoprevinível. Urge autoridades e órgãos gestores da saúde programarem estratégias que visem mudanças de políticas públicas relacionadas à cobertura vacinal dos susceptíveis, principalmente adultos.

The demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with accidental tetanus in Ceará are described. This was retrospective analysis of 131 cases of accidental tetanus notified in a state referral hospital between 2002 and 2005. Most of these cases (84. 8 percent) occurred among men and among people living in the urban zone (93. 2 percent). The age group with highest incidence was between 35 and 49 years old (35. 2 percent). A complete vaccination history was reported in four (3 percent) cases. Puncturing/cutting wounds were the cause most commonly observed and the legs were the area most affected. Trismus (lockjaw) was reported in 86. 2 percent of the cases, followed by muscle contractions (54. 1 percent). Among the notified cases, 95. 5 percent were confirmed and 33 patients (26. 4 percent) died. We conclude that accidental tetanus in Ceará significantly affects the population, in spite of being a disease that is preventable by immunization. The health authorities and health administration entities are urged to program strategies that aim towards changes in public policies concerning the vaccination coverage for susceptible individuals, particularly adults.