Nursing NUR401 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Nasogastric Intubation, Spasm, Globulin
Document Summary
Tetanus is a non-invasive infection caused by anaerobic micro-organisms which requires favorable wounds like abortions, lacerations, injections, open fractures, burns, deep contused wounds with dead tissues and foreign body It can practically be eliminated by tetanus vaccine immunization if properly initiated and maintained. Clostridium tetani, a gram-positive rod found in soil and manure is the causative agent. It require anaerobic environment for growth, invasion and elaboration of toxin, tetano-spasmin for its dramatic virulence. Can be latent with healed and forgotten wounds. Stiffness or cramping pain on the back, neck and abdomen. Sardonic smile as evidence of onset of tonic spasm. Severe pain and opisothonus due to reflex convulsion of all muscles. Respiratory failure and death due to repeated cyanotic convulsive attacks. Meticulous surgical excision of the wound regardless of immunization state to eliminate thebacterial infection and the dead contaminated tissue.
