DISEASE NAME:
Tetanus
CATEGORY:
Vaccine Preventable
Tetanus
Tetanus is a notifiable disease. Tetanus is an acute, often fatal disease caused by a toxin produced by a spore forming bacterium, Clostridium tetani. The spores can remain viable for years and are common in soil, and animal and human faeces. The spores enter the body through breaks in the skin — usually cuts or puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects. Tetanus is not contagious, person to person spread does not occur. Anyone who is not fully protected against tetanus by immunisation is at risk from the disease. Individuals with impaired immunity may be at risk, regardless of their immunisation status.
Case definition
Clinical criteria
Any person with at least two of the following three:
- Painful muscular contractions primarily of the masseter and neck muscles leading to facial
spasms known as trismus and “risus sardonicus”
- Painful muscular contractions of trunk muscles
- Generalized spasms, frequently position of opisthotonus
Laboratory criteria
At least one of the following three:
- Isolation of Clostridium tetani from an infection site
- Detection of C. tetani toxin gene from pure culture
- Detection of C. tetani neurotoxin in serum (serum must be taken before administration of anti-toxin)
Epidemiological criteria
NA
Case classification
A. Possible case
NA
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria
Current as of: 24 January 2019
Information, Data and Reports for Tetanus
Ireland’s specialist service for the surveillance of communicable diseases.