Tetanus laboratory findings
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Usama Talib, BSc, MD [2]
Overview
Tetanus is a clinical diagnosis and there are no laboratory findings characteristic of tetanus. The diagnosis is entirely clinical and does not depend upon bacteriologic confirmation. C. tetani is recovered from the wound in only 30% of cases and can be isolated from patients who do not have tetanus. Laboratory identification of the organism depends most importantly on the demonstration of toxin production in mice.[1]
Laboratory Findings
Tetanus is a clinical diagnosis and there are no laboratory findings characteristic of tetanus.[1] Tetanus must e suspected in patients with:
- An injury involving contact of broken skin wit contaminated environment, soil or dust.
- An absent or inconsistent history of immunizations.