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REVIEW PAPER
Tetanus – what a surgeon should know about Clostridium tetani
 
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1
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
 
2
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Voivodeship Clinical Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland
 
3
Department of Internal Medicine, Independent Public Multispecialty Healthcare Center in Stargard, Poland
 
4
Department of General Surgery, SPZOZ Hospital in Działdowo, Poland
 
5
Department of Plastic Surgery, Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland
 
6
Faculty of Medicine, University of Opole, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2025-05-18
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-06-10
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-06-11
 
 
Publication date: 2026-03-31
 
 
Corresponding author
Maciej Szewczyk   

Oddział Chorób Wewnętrznych, Samodzielny Publiczny Wielospecjalistyczny Zakład Opieki Zdrowotnej, Stargard, Polska
 
 
LW 2026;104(1):28-34
 
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ABSTRACT
Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Clostridium tetani, whose spores are commonly found in soil. Owing to the widespread implementation of vaccination programs, the incidence of tetanus has significantly declined; however, given the frequency of traumatic injuries and the environmental ubiquity of the pathogen, continued vigilance remains essential. The pathogenesis of the disease is primarily mediated by potent neurotoxins produced by the bacterium, particularly tetanospasmin. The hallmark clinical manifestations include generalized muscle spasms, which may progress to severe complications such as respiratory failure and death. Post-exposure management requires careful assessment of an individual’s risk of developing tetanus in order to guide appropriate therapeutic strategies. In confirmed cases, treatment typically involves antimicrobial therapy, administration of tetanus-specific immunoglobulin, and supportive symptomatic care. The differential diagnosis should include conditions such as strychnine poisoning, viral encephalitis, oropharyngeal disorders, and rabies.
eISSN:1509-5754
ISSN:0024-0745
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