$Unique_ID{BRK02112}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Cuts and Tetanus Immunization}
$Subject{tetanus cut cuts ER punctures puncture wound wounds spores bacterium
bacterial bacteria Clostridium tetani lock jaw tetanus/diphtheria booster shot
shots immunization immunizations}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Cuts and Tetanus Immunization


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QUESTION:  Is a tetanus shot a normal part of treatment for an adult that has
a simple cut on his foot?  I visited an emergency room, and after the long
wait that seems to be part of their treatment strategy, I was submitted to the
indignity of having to undergo a shot, just as if I was a child.  Is this just
another way of pushing the bill up, or was there a legitimate reason that you
might explain to me?  I would be very grateful.

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ANSWER:  Emergency rooms (ER) are designed to provide emergency treatment to
patients with serious or life threatening situations.  "A simple cut" as you
put it may not qualify you for priority treatment, and so your wait may be
justified in a busy ER.  Still, you do deserve complete and proper treatment
when your turn does come.  A cut on the foot frequently results from stepping
on a sharp object, a nail perhaps, and a puncture wound does require special
care.  The spores of the bacteria Clostridium tetani are everywhere, and when
they come into contact with the warm moist environment of the inside of your
foot, they reproduce in a remarkably rapid fashion.  That puts you at risk for
an acute infectious disease, in which the bacteria produces a substance that
is poison to the nervous system, particularly to nerves that control muscle
activity.  The muscles of the jaw are frequently the first to be affected,
thus the name "lock jaw" for this infection.  When the affects of the toxin
reach the muscles in the chest wall, asphyxiation is possible, though rare.
     Much of the danger can be reduced by carefully cleaning out the wound
with soap and water.  However, when the wound is deep, and when treatment has
been delayed, a tetanus booster shot is most certainly indicated, and not just
for children.  In fact, current recommendations state that adults should have
a tetanus/diphtheria booster every 10 years throughout life.  Thus your
dignity was not diminished when the ER physician took the right precautions to
help you avoid the unpleasant experience of a locked jaw.  You won't need
another one now for the next ten years, even if you step on the same nail once
again.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.