Pathogens
Clostridium tetani

Clostridium tetani

Susceptibilities

General Information

Anaerobic gram positive spore-forming bacilli. Produces toxins that cause painful muscle contractions in humans (lockjaw)

  • Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated individuals with deep wound
  • Note: there is no herd immunity as the organism is found in soil/earth and not transmitted person-to-person

Tetanus:

  • generalized
  • localized
  • cephalic
  • neonatal

Deep wound with necrotic tissue highest risk