Tetanus: a case study.

Tetanus is a disease caused by the toxin produced by Clostridium tetani. The clostridium tetanus bacterium is ubiquitous, and as such, C tetani infection can be acquired through surgery, intravenous drug abuse, the neonate’s umbilicus, bites, burns, body piercing, puncture wounds, and ear infections. In short, this organism can enter through any break in the integrity of the body. As a result of widespread vaccination, tetanus is relatively rare in the United States. Even so, there were 325 cases of tetanus reported between 1991 and 1997, or approximately 46.4 cases per year. The following case of tetanus is one of three reported by the New York State Department of Health in 1999.