Can you get tetanus from a plastic scratch?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on January 02, 2025
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In clinical practice, all injuries, if the wound is relatively deep, such as being cut by a sharp object into the subcutaneous tissue or even damaging the tendons, reaching the muscle tissue, can potentially be infected by tetanus. Wounds inflicted by plastic can also be infected by tetanus. In such deep wounds, Clostridium tetani can easily grow and reproduce. This bacterium can produce a toxin that causes muscle spasms, leading to related clinical symptoms. Therefore, if a plastic injury results in a deep wound, there is a risk of tetanus infection. It is advised that the patient seeks medical attention promptly, undergoes wound disinfection, and receives an injection of tetanus antitoxin to prevent infection.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Can tetanus be fatal?

Firstly, severe tetanus, if not treated in time, can be fatal. When infected with tetanus, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, soreness or cramping of the jaw muscles, or muscle tension. Of course, when tetanus is severe, it can manifest as difficulty opening the mouth, risus sardonicus, opisthotonos, and stiff neck. In severe cases, there may be difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest. If in this situation, we do not promptly carry out emergency treatment, the tetanus patient can die.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Will a tetanus wound heal?

Tetanus wounds do not heal, and they contain a large amount of tetanus bacilli, which reproduce massively, leading to symptoms such as redness, pain, and even pus discharge in the affected area. Generally, these wounds cannot heal by themselves; even if the skin heals, the underlying and muscle tissues infected by tetanus can cause the skin to rupture and possibly accumulate pus. If a superficial wound is suspected to be infected with tetanus, it is necessary to promptly enlarge the wound, i.e., expand the surface wound, and rinse repeatedly with hydrogen peroxide and clean water to further kill the tetanus bacilli inside. At the same time, it is necessary to administer tetanus antitoxin, regularly observe the patient's clinical manifestations, and if necessary, administer tetanus antitoxin again after a period.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How to administer a tetanus shot if it is negative?

A negative tetanus needle test indicates that the patient is not allergic to the tetanus antitoxin and can continue with intramuscular injections, typically administered in the upper arm or buttock muscles, in doses ranging from 1000 to 3000 units each time. If the infection is severe or the tetanus injection is not timely, the dosage may be appropriately increased, generally by one to two times. The purpose of administering tetanus antitoxin treatment is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium. For patients with deep wounds or heavily contaminated wounds, such as those contaminated with soil or rust, Clostridium tetani can easily colonize. Therefore, for such patients, it is essential to perform tetanus antitoxin treatment while cleaning and dressing the wound.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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What will happen with tetanus?

In clinical settings, tetanus is a type of surgical-specific infectious disease caused by the infiltration of Clostridium tetani through human skin, mucous membranes, or wounds. Tetanus toxin is a true anaerobic bacterium that thrives in oxygen-deprived environments and is highly resistant to environmental conditions. Clostridium tetani mainly produces tetanus toxin and tetanolysin, which can cause whole-body muscle spasms, including facial muscle spasms and difficulty opening the mouth. It can also lead to persistent spasms of the respiratory muscles and diaphragm, causing respiratory arrest and, in severe cases, can result in patient death.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Can you drink alcohol with tetanus?

Tetanus is a specific infection caused by the toxin produced by Clostridium tetani entering the body through damaged skin and mucous membranes. The onset of tetanus is due to the absorption of the toxin produced by Clostridium tetani in the bloodstream. Drinking alcohol at this time can lead to vasodilation and enhanced blood circulation, which can facilitate the absorption of the toxin. The increased speed and amount of toxin absorption can exacerbate the symptoms of tetanus. Therefore, it is advisable not to drink alcohol with tetanus.