A medical professional at the Sharp Coronado Hospital, specializing in osteopathy, has recently shed light on the identification, treatment, and vaccination of tetanus.
Dr. William Bianchi, DO at Sharp Coronado Hospital, provides a comprehensive perspective on the prevention of tetanus in adults. He states: "Tetanus prevention in adults is a combination of wound type and vaccination history". Elaborating further on this point, Bianchi explains: "We essentially consider the wounds to either be simple or complex — complex being contaminated with soil or saliva — and we take into account how large the puncture is."
Tetanus is a bacterial infection that infiltrates the body through objects that puncture the skin and are contaminated with bacteria from sources such as feces, saliva, dirt, dog bites, and burns. Symptoms typically manifest between three to twenty-one days post-injury and can range from muscle spasms and stiffness to fever and lockjaw. However, more severe symptoms may also occur. Left untreated, tetanus can prove fatal; approximately one in four people infected with these bacteria succumb to the disease according to a news release from Sharp Health News.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that seventy percent of wounds carry the potential to develop into tetanus. This statistic underscores the importance of wound awareness and vaccination against tetanus. Dr. Bianchi, who also serves as an emergency medicine doctor and Emergency Department director at Sharp Coronado Hospital adds: "After assessing the wound, we determine if the patient has been vaccinated for tetanus based on their immunization history and when their last booster was. If we can't make the determination by medical history, we err on the side of caution and update with a Tdap," according to a news release from Sharp Health News.
The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Bianchi recommends administering this vaccine if the patient hasn’t received it in over five years and has a deep wound. Furthermore, he advises getting the Tdap even for simple wounds if the patient’s last vaccination was over ten years ago. It is crucial for patients to monitor when they’ve received tetanus shots and keep a vigilant eye on wounds, irrespective of their size. Visiting a medical professional with concerns about a wound, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is always advisable according to a news release from Sharp Health News.
