Abstract
The study focuses on the problem of severe tetanus cases, which continue to be reported worldwide. The population of countries with low vaccination rates, including Ukraine, is particularly at risk. Despite the increase in the level of DPT vaccination in our country among adults and children, it remains insufficient, which leads to the registration of new cases of tetanus. The aim of the study was to analyze the main directions in the treatment of tetanus. The authors searched for information in electronic databases such as MEDLINE/Pub Med and Google Scholar for the last 20 years. The search was performed on such terms as tetanus, treatment, benzodiazepines, tetanus immunoglobulin (medical topics). The main components of modern treatment are analyzed in the paper, which include removal of the pathogen by careful surgical treatment of wounds, rational antibiotic therapy. Drugs of choice for the eradication of vegetative forms of the pathogen are benzylpenicillin and metronidazole, but can also be used antibacterial drugs of other groups (macrolides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins). Specific immunotherapy with tetanus immunoglobulin can neutralize the toxin that freely circulates in the blood. Those who do not have vaccination data are also indicated for the introduction of tetanus toxoid. Intrathecal administration of anti-tetanus immunoglobulin remains a debatable issue. In the treatment of convulsions, drugs of the benzodiazepine group are preferred. Infusions of high doses of magnesium, dexmetomedin, baclofen, propofol or their combination can also be used. In the case of severe muscular rigidity, muscle relaxants of nondepolarizing action are used. If the spasms are prolonged, botulinum toxin A may be recommended as an injection into peripheral muscles. B-blockers (esmolol), dexmetomedin, clonidine are used to overcome autonomic dysfunction of the nervous system. Supportive therapy is important. It is aimed at providing the patient with complete nutrition. Adequate ventilation with early tracheostomy helps to avoid complications of prolonged intubation. The above methods can significantly reduce mortality from tetanus from 100% (in the absence of treatment) to 10%–20%. Keywords: tetanus, management, benzodiazepines, magnesium sulfate, tetanus immunoglobin, tracheostomy.
Highlights
According to the European Center for the Prevention and Control of Disease in the European Union, 82 cases of tetanus were recorded in 2017, 54% of cases were reported in Italy and Poland [1]
The search was performed on such terms as tetanus, treatment, benzodiazepines, tetanus immunoglobulin
The above methods can significantly reduce mortality from tetanus from 100% to 10%–20%
Summary
According to the European Center for the Prevention and Control of Disease in the European Union, 82 cases of tetanus were recorded in 2017, 54% of cases were reported in Italy and Poland [1]. There were no reported cases of this disease in 10 countries: Germany, Belgium, Finland, etc., where the level of vaccinated people ranged from 91 to 98%. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in 2017, about half of children under 18 months of age were not vaccinated against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus and less than half of adults underwent routine booster vaccination against the mentioned infections. By 2018 the total level of DTP vaccination among adults and children in Ukraine has grown to 69%. Purpose: analysis of the main recommendation devoted to the treatment of tetanus
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