Updated instructions for giving tetanus vaccines: Following the infection of an unvaccinated child with the deadly bacteria, the Ministry of Health distributes instructions on how to vaccinate against the bacteria in various injury cases, and when hospitalization is required.
The affair began when a student who was not vaccinated with the routine vaccinations as a child was playing outside and injured his hand from a dirty tree in the ground. He was treated locally at home and later brought to the emergency room, where a cut of several centimeters was observed, red and slightly swollen, possibly from a wood chip.
He received an active vaccine against tetanus in the emergency room, which is similar to the regular vaccine given and which causes the body to produce antibodies against the disease, and he was discharged with a recommendation for antibiotic treatment to prevent infection and continued monitoring in the community.
About two weeks later, the boy arrived at the emergency room with tetanus symptoms that included muscle stiffness and difficulty swallowing. He received a tolerable vaccine that contains a specific antibody for tetanus and was hospitalized for further treatment and observation. After further hospitalization, his condition improved and he was discharged home.
The tetanus bacterium is one of the deadliest bacteria, and following the vaccination routine, the rate of morbidity from it, which caused the death of many in the past, has been significantly reduced. The vaccine is given as a routine drop of milk vaccine, and it protects for 5 to 10 years, so even later in life you should continue to be vaccinated within 48 hours of any injury.
In the new guidelines, the Ministry of Health emphasizes in which situations one should be vaccinated and with which vaccine. In the guidelines, the injuries were classified as “light and clean” with a depth of up to 1 cm, or a dangerous “other” injury, which is an injury with a depth of more than 1 cm, accompanied by the destruction of tissues, contaminated with dirt, soil, feces or saliva, an injury from an animal bite Life or a blow, an injury that is accompanied by necrosis or in cases of abortion or contaminated birth. In such cases, it is necessary to give a tolerable vaccine containing antibodies, in addition to the usual active vaccine.
In the guidelines, the ministry stated that even in cases where the cut appears to be minor, the fact that it was caused by a tree contaminated with soil increases the risk of infection with the tetanus bacteria, and therefore it should have been treated as an “other” wound with a high risk of tetanus infection.
In the new guidelines, the ministry states that a patient who has not been vaccinated or who has only been vaccinated with two anti-tetanus doses in his life, and suffers from a wound of a “different” type, that is, deep, looks contaminated, or following animal injury or abortion – must immediately be given both a tolerable vaccine containing antibodies and a vaccine Active (the “normal” vaccine that is routinely given).
The tetanus disease, which is caused by the bacterium “Clostridium tetanus”, is manifested by fever, sweating, accelerated heart rate, increased blood pressure, severe and painful spasms and contractions to the point of paralysis of various muscles in the body. In 10-20% of cases it leads to death. The bacterium resides in soil, animal feces, dust, rust, and also in the saliva of infected animals.
The tetanus vaccine is given as part of the quintet vaccine as part of the routine immunization program for babies and children. The vaccine provides almost 100% protection against tetanus. However, as mentioned, the protection decreases as the years go by, so it is recommended to be vaccinated against tetanus every 10 years.