Lai X, Hosyanto FF, Xu L. Risk of
Clostridium tetani infection in an elderly patient following hemorrhoid ligation.
J Int Med Res 2020;
48:300060520963983. [PMID:
33107774 PMCID:
PMC7604989 DOI:
10.1177/0300060520963983]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetanus after gastrointestinal surgery is an extremely rare but very dangerous
disease caused by infection with Clostridium tetani. Tetanus
can occur due to bacterial infection during surgery or dressing change, or the
bacteria may exist in the patient’s intestines and be discharged with feces.
This report describes a 71-year-old woman who developed tetanus 3 days after a
hemorrhoidal ligation. Clinicians need to be aware of symptoms of C.
tetani infection that might present in patients who have undergone
gastrointestinal procedures.
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