Tetanus (Clostridium tetani)

Clinical criteria
Any person with at least two of the following three:

- Painful muscular contractions primarily of the masseter and neck muscles leading to facial
spasms known as trismus and “risus sardonicus”
- Painful muscular contractions of trunk muscles
- Generalized spasms, frequently position of opisthotonus

Laboratory criteria
At least one of the following three:
- Isolation of Clostridium tetani from an infection site
- Detection of C. tetani toxin gene from pure culture
- Detection of C. tetani neurotoxin in serum (serum must be taken before administration of anti-toxin)

Epidemiological criteria
NA

Case classification
A. Possible case
NA
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

Current as of: 24 January 2019