Hello everyone, i would like to tell about clostridium tetani.it is a gram +ve bacteria, non motile,uncapsulated,termial spores.
Virulence factors-
It releases two exotoxins - 1)tetanolysin and 2)tetanospamin/TT. tetanospasmin has main role.both toxins are heat labile.tetanolysin is O2 labile and tetanospasmin is O2 stable and it is neurotoxin.it acts presynaptically @inhibitoy neuron and prevents release of glycine,GABA therefore it leads to muscle contraction or spasm.
Strychnine poisoning also causes same effect but it acts postsynaptically.
There is no person to person transmission it only transmitted through wound injuries and RTA.
Clinical features-
Incubation period is 6 to 10 days.
1st symptom is increase in masseter tone(trismus/jaw lock)
In Neonates feeding,crying seen.
Complications-
1)Risus sardonicus- facial spasm.
2)Opisthotonus position.
Diagnosis-
Specimen- necrotic tissue
M/E - drum stick appearance
Culture - RCMB(foul smelling;black colonies)
Rx -
Passive immunisation + active immunisation(if previously unvaccinated)
Prevention -
Child immunisation schedule - 6,10,14 weeks,16-24 months,5 years DPT is given.10,16 years TT is given.
Thanks for reading,
Yours @summisimeon