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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How much is the tetanus serum?

When there is a potential risk of tetanus infection in our wounds, we should promptly receive a tetanus shot. The tetanus treatments commonly used today include tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin, also known as tetanus serum. Generally, the price of tetanus antitoxin is about seven to eight yuan each. Tetanus serum can be divided into two types: human tetanus immunoglobulin and horse tetanus immunoglobulin. The price of human tetanus immunoglobulin is slightly over 80 yuan, while horse tetanus immunoglobulin costs slightly over 30 yuan. Horse tetanus immunoglobulin requires a skin test before it can be administered.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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When does tetanus occur?

Tetanus is an infection caused by the invasion of the body by Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani is an anaerobic bacterium and an opportunistic pathogen, which is likely to cause tetanus in conditions such as anaerobic environments, deep wounds, or heavily contaminated wounds. Therefore, in cases where wounds are relatively small yet deep, and are considered to be in an anaerobic environment, or are contaminated with rust or soil, or in situations such as open fractures, blast injuries, gunshot wounds, and animal bites, tetanus injection treatment is necessary. It is generally recommended to administer the injection within 24 hours, and a skin test should be conducted before the injection, with alcohol consumption prohibited.

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Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
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How long does it take for tetanus to develop?

Tetanus is an acute, specific infection caused by the invasion of Clostridium tetani into a human wound, where it grows and reproduces, producing toxins. Tetanus is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that is widely present in the external environment. Tetanus occurs only when tetanus bacillus grows and reproduces locally in a wound and produces exotoxins, which are the cause of the disease. The toxins of tetanus include spasm toxin and hemolysin. The incubation period of tetanus generally ranges from six to ten days. In some cases, it can occur within 24 hours or take as long as 20 to 30 days, or even months, particularly following the removal of foreign bodies or shrapnel. Neonatal tetanus generally occurs seven days after umbilical cord separation, clinically also known as the "seven-day wind." Generally, the shorter the duration of the incubation period or prodromal symptoms, the more severe the symptoms and the higher the mortality rate.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus shot a vaccine?

Tetanus shots are not vaccines; they are a type of passive immunization. To understand this, we need to know about the pathogenesis of tetanus. Tetanus infection generally refers to an infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium that proliferates and grows in wounds and can produce exotoxins, leading to corresponding clinical symptoms in patients. Therefore, tetanus shots include tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin. Their main function is to neutralize the bacterial exotoxins, hence they are considered passive immunization agents and belong to the antibody category, not vaccines.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
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Can tetanus be treated?

Tetanus is a specific infection caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani in the human body. If treated systematically and without severe complications, the vast majority of tetanus patients can be cured. Whenever there is a wound, it should be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide or saline and the patient should go to the hospital as soon as possible for a tetanus vaccine injection. If tetanus occurs, it is imperative to seek timely treatment at a hospital. Most tetanus patients exhibit muscle tension and rigidity, such as risus sardonicus, difficulty opening the mouth, neck stiffness, and opisthotonus. In severe cases, respiratory arrest or difficulty breathing may occur. Therefore, tetanus patients, as long as they go to the hospital for early treatment, the vast majority can be cured.