Clostridium tetani

Laboratory identification

• Gram positive bacillus
• anaerobic
• Spore forming "drumstick"

Features

• produces neurotoxin

Colonises

• ubiquitous
• fertile soils
• animal and human GI tract

Disease

• Tetanus

Treatment

• debridement
• metronidazole
• passive immunisation with Ig
• active immunisation with tetanus toxoid

Prevention

• toxoid vaccine, booster every 5 to 10 years