Tooth extraction, colon polyp removal, and hemorrhoid ligation can create conditions for tetanus bacteria to enter the body and cause disease.
According to Dr. Bạch Thị Chính, Medical Director of the VNVC vaccination system, the tetanus pathogen exists in the surrounding environment such as dust, soil, and feces, and is typically transmitted into the body through various types of open wounds. However, there are still cases where no “entry point” can be found. In these instances, the patient may have a small wound that has healed on its own, or the pathogen may have entered through a decayed tooth, during dental procedures, or gastrointestinal surgery.
Tetanus bacteria under a microscope. (Image: CDC USA).
To elaborate, Dr. Chính cited a study on secondary tetanus caused by oral and dental infections involving 26 patients conducted by Peruvian scientists, published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine in 2023. In this study, 73% of cases of oral tetanus were related to dental procedures, with tooth decay accounting for 23% of the cases. The mortality rate for tetanus related to dental issues is 30.77%.
Furthermore, according to the same study, tetanus bacteria may have been present in the mouth prior to tooth extraction and could enter the bloodstream during the procedure. Spores of Clostridium that remain at the wound site will release a type of protein toxin known as Tetanospasmin. This substance disrupts the nerves controlling muscle movement, increases muscle tone, and causes spasms, potentially leading to death if not treated promptly.
In cases of tetanus following gastrointestinal surgery, a case report from Roeselare, Belgium, in 2019 explained the mechanism of infection. Bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract can be a source of endogenous tetanus infection. When a patient has a wound in the digestive tract, the pathogen can enter the body.
Dr. Chính stated that tetanus can lead to complications such as laryngeal spasms, bone fractures, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and respiratory distress… Vaccination is a proactive and safe method of prevention. If administered correctly, the vaccine can provide up to 95% effectiveness in preventing the disease.
Adults with unclear vaccination histories should receive three basic doses. The second dose should be given one month after the first, and the third dose six months after the second. Subsequently, individuals should receive a booster shot every 10 years or whenever they have a wound.
Pregnant women need to be vaccinated against tetanus to prevent transmission and infection during labor, thereby reducing the risk of neonatal tetanus. Children should follow the tetanus vaccination schedule, usually included in combination vaccines such as 5-in-1 or 6-in-1, with booster shots administered at preschool age (4-6 years) and for adolescents (9-15 years).
