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Tetanus Explained

Tetanus is an acute, often-fatal infectious disease commonly known as “lockjaw” because the condition causes the jaw muscles to lock. In the United States, four out of every 10 people who get tetanus will die. The disease is not passed from one person to the next, because the illness is caused by toxins produced by bacteria. The tetanus vaccine has been available since the 1940s.

What causes tetanus?

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium belonging to the Clostridium genus, which thrives in the absence of oxygen. It is found almost everywhere in the environment, most often in soil, dust, manure, and in the digestive tract of humans and animals. The bacteria form spores, which are hard to kill and highly resistant to heat and many antiseptics.

Tetanus bacteria enter the body through a wound (even one as small as a pinprick). More typically, the wound that leads to tetanus is a deep puncture caused by a nail or knife; because these wounds are hard to clean, bacteria remains deep within the wound. In the presence of dead tissue, tetanus spores can grow and produce the deadly exotoxin that causes symptoms.

While tetanus bacteria are found almost everywhere, natural immunity is rare, which is why immunization is so important. It is also possible to contract tetanus from animal scratches and bites, in wounds where the flesh is torn or burned, in crushing wounds, and in frostbite. It may even follow minor wounds such as splinters, and it can develop after surgery.