Chinese expert consensus on tetanus immunization / 中华外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Tetanus is an acute specific infection caused by obligate anaerobes, which is still a serious public health problem. Tetanus bacterium is an obligate anaerobic bacterium, widely distributed in nature, which can exist in dust, soil, human or animal excrement. The bacteria invade the body primarily through the skin or mucosal wounds, and most commonly in trauma and burn patients, unclean newborns, and unsafe surgical instruments. Exotoxin produced by tetanus bacteria can cause temporary changes in the central nervous system, manifested as systemic skeletal muscle persistence and paroxysmal spasm, severe cases of laryngospasm, asphyxia, lung infections and organ failure, which is a very serious and potentially fatal disease. This article is an expert consensus on the tetanus immunologic defense, aiming to aid the clinical decision making after open injury. According to epidemiological investigation of tetanus, types of injured population, wound exposure and misunderstandings of immunologic defense, the key measures to prevent tetanus are good wound management and immunization. This statement describes a preventive framework of tetanus immunization, including the tetanus immunization programs of infants, pregnant women, potentially high-risk population, immunodeficiency patients and children born to HIV-infected mothers. This consensus only provides academic guidance, the treatment of the patient must be based on the prevailing medical conditions.