Abstract
Tetanus is an infectious and non-contagious disease capable of causing a state of hyperexcitability in the central nervous system. In order to prevent the development of the infection, the tetanus vaccine was implemented. However, for effective protection, a complete and adequate immunization is necessary. The aim of the study was to identify the factors that can interfere with the tetanus vaccination scheme in the elderly population. This is an integrative, retrospective, descriptive-exploratory literature review with a qualitative approach, carried out through the Portal de Periódicos CAPES. After the search, 2,313 studies were found, of which 18 were eligible for the final sample. Factors that negatively affect tetanus vaccine coverage in the elderly population were identified as the number of incomplete doses and the absence of tetanus booster; absence of vaccination campaigns and socioeconomic and demographic aspects. Therefore, it was determined that tetanus is a disease that can cause serious complications and concerns to health systems, with the elderly being the population most affected by the infection, both due to changes in their physiology and the decrease in the levels of protective antibodies.
Highlights
Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic gram-positive bacillus, sporulated and producing an exotoxin called tetanospasmin, capable of causing a state of hyperexcitability of the central nervous system
As the elderly population is the main group affected by tetanus due to the incomplete vaccination schedule, the need to investigate: What variables can interfere with the tetanus vaccination scheme in the elderly population? this study aims to identify the factors that can interfere with the tetanus vaccination scheme in the elderly population
Based on the reading of updated national and international epidemiological bulletins about confirmed tetanus cases, it was observed that the incidence was higher in the elderly population, which motivated research and hypotheses about which aspects were responsible for this scenario
Summary
Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic gram-positive bacillus, sporulated and producing an exotoxin called tetanospasmin, capable of causing a state of hyperexcitability of the central nervous system. This bacteria can be found in feces, dust, soil, tree branches, decaying water, animal intestinal tracts, among other surfaces. In Brazil, in children it occurs at two, four and six months, later, at 15 months and between 4 and 6 years of age, a booster should be applied; adults who have never been immunized against tetanus should receive three administrations of the dual adult (dT) vaccine, with an interval of one month between doses. A tetanus toxoid booster is recommended every decade so that protective antibody levels remain continuous (Ministério da Saúde, 2019; Cossutta, 2017; Sahan et al, 2019)
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