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Tetanus: A Potential Public Health Threat in Times of Disaster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2017

Paige Finkelstein ,
Laura Teisch ,
Casey J. Allen  and
Gabriel Ruiz
Paige Finkelstein
Affiliation:
Division of Trauma Surgery, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
Laura Teisch
Affiliation:
Division of Trauma Surgery, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
Casey J. Allen
Affiliation:
Division of Trauma Surgery, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
Gabriel Ruiz*
Affiliation:
Division of Trauma Surgery, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
*
Correspondence: Gabriel Ruiz, MD Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Daughtry Family Department of Surgery University of Miami School of Medicine, Ryder Trauma Center, 1800 NW 10th Ave. Miami, Florida 33136 USA, E-mail: gruiz3@med.miami.edu
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Abstract

Background:

Tetanus is a potentially fatal condition that is rare in urban environments but is seen in developing countries and post-natural-disaster. Therefore, the purpose of this report was to review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of tetanus in the trauma patient.

Methods:

A thorough literature review was conducted to look for the most current and thorough guidelines on the prophylaxis and treatment of tetanus. PUBMED (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland USA), MEDLINE (US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland USA), and Cochrane Library (The Cochrane Collaboration; Oxford, United Kingdom) databases were searched for articles in English, published from 2005 to 2015, using the keywords “Tetanus,” “Trauma/Surgery,” and “Disaster.” Controlled trials, randomized controlled trials, trials of adult patients, published guidelines, expert opinions, and review articles were selected and extracted.

Results:

Current vaccination schedules in developed countries provide prophylaxis for tetanus. However, when severe natural disasters occur, many patients may not be able to provide a reliable vaccination history. In these situations, tetanus immune globulin (TIG) is indicated; if resources are not limited, both tetanus toxoid and TIG should be given to those with high-risk wounds. If resources are limited, TIG should be reserved for those that would benefit most or those least likely to have the protective antibodies.

Conclusions:

Although tetanus is a disease that has a low incidence in the developed world due to high rates of immunization, during large-scale natural disasters, compounding factors like the types of injuries, lack of medical services and supplies, and the delay in treatment associated with an already low immunization rate result in an increased incidence and outbreaks of the disease that has higher mortality in an underdeveloped society. It is important for the urban physician that cares for trauma and critical patients to become familiar with the protocols for treatment and immunization of patients that have tetanus-prone wounds, as well as recognize the potential for outbreaks in the settings of major natural disasters.

FinkelsteinP, TeischL, AllenCJ, RuizG. Tetanus: A Potential Public Health Threat in Times of Disaster. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(3):339–342.

Keywords

disasterpublic healthTetanus
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 3 , June 2017 , pp. 339 - 342
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2017 

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Footnotes

Conflicts of interest: None of the authors have declared conflicts of interest.

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