Tetanus,Tetanos,Clostridium,Life Threatening,Gram Negative,Spore Forming,Soil Inhibitating Bacterium,Tetanospasmin,Deep Puncture

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Tetanus
Tetanus (Gr. tetanus = to stretch) is a serious, of the life-threatening disease caused by Clostridium tetany, a motile anaerobic gram-negative spore-forming and soil-inhabiting bacterium. The pathogen enters in human body through a soil-contaminated wound, typically a deep puncture. These are the anaerobic conditions in the wound that allow the germination of endospores and emergence of the new cells which divide and increase in number. The pathogens secrete a potent exotoxin, tetanus-toxin (tetanospasmin) that causes uncontrolled stimulation of skeletal muscles.

In the beginning, the tetanospasmin causes cramping and twisting in skeletal muscles surrounding the wound and tightness of the jaw muscles. Later on, there is trismus, i.e., “Lockjaw” resulting in inability to open the mouth.

Tetanus treatment is not very effective because the toxin already bound to tissues cannot be neutratized. Therefore, the best treatment is the prevention by (i) active immunization with toxoid, (ii) proper care of soil-contaminated deep wounds, and (iii) administration of antibiotics, usually penicillin.

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