Neonatal tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria entering the body through an unsterilized umbilical cord. It causes painful muscle spasms and can be fatal, especially in developing countries where proper umbilical cord care may not be practiced. Prevention focuses on immunizing pregnant women and promoting clean delivery techniques like sterilizing cutting and tying instruments and keeping the umbilical cord clean and dry. Treatment involves controlling spasms, administering antitoxins, antibiotics, and supportive care like oxygen and IV fluids. With immunization programs, many countries have eliminated neonatal tetanus as a major public health problem.
2. • It is an acute, spastic paralytic neurotoxin illness.
• Greek words -“tetanos and teinein”, meaning rigid and
stretched, which describe the condition of the muscles
affected by the toxin, tetano spasmin,
• Tetanus was first described in Egypt over 3000 years
ago(Edwin smith papyrus)
• causative agent: Clostridium tetani
• It produces a powerful toxin that affects the nervous
system
• Incubation period : Typically is 2–14 days, but it may be
as long as months after the injury
5/10/2023 2
by Yonas
3. Neonatal Tetanus
Most infants with disease will die
Improper umbilical cord care can lead to neonatal tetanus
Caused by Clostridium tetani
universally found in soil
produces neurotoxin in dead tissue (e.g. umbilicus following non-
sterile delivery)
disease characterized by muscle spasms (initially jaw
muscles) and generalized seizure-like activity
http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/aap-press-room-media-
center/Pages/AAP-Pressroom-Photos.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-
0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token
5/10/2023 3
by Yonas
4. Epidemiology
– Endemic in 90 developing countries
– Most common form – neonatal (umbilical) tetanus,
killing ~500,000 infants each year
– ~80% of deaths occur in just 12 tropical Asian &
African countries
– Additionally, 15,000 – 30,000 Unimmunized mothers
die each year from:
• maternal tetanus result from post-partum, post-abortal &
post-surgical wound infection
– Most non-neonatal cases associated with traumatic
injury by a dirty object
5/10/2023 4
by Yonas
5. Clinical Manifestation
– Neonatal tetanus (Tetanus Neonatrum):
• Infantile type of generalized tetanus
• Typically manifests with in 3 – 12 days of birth
• Difficulty in feeding, crying, paralysis, stiffness
to touch with or without opisthotonus are
characteristics
5/10/2023 5
by Yonas
6. Clinical feature
•
Opisthotonus
is an equilibrium position that
results from unrelenting total
contraction of opposing
muscles, all of which display
the typical board like rigidity of
tetanus.
6
The smallest disturbance by sight, sound, or touch
may trigger a tetanic spasm
5/10/2023 by Yonas
7. Case definition
Suspected case: Any neonatal death between
three and 28 days of age in which the cause of
death is unknown; any neonate reported as
having suffered from neonatal tetanus between
three and 28 days of age and not immunized
mother
Confirmed case: Any neonate with normal ability
to suck and cry during the first 2 days of life and-
cannot suck normally between 3 and 28 days of
age, and becomes stiff and/ or has spasms (i.e.
jerking of the muscles)
5/10/2023 7
by Yonas
9. Umbilical Cord Care: Traditional Practices
Ties
• Blades of grass, bark fibres, reeds or fine roots
• Problem: may be contaminated with tetanus
spores or other bacteria from soil
Tools for cutting the cord
• Scissors, knives, broken glass, stones,
used razor blades
• Problem: transmit infection as may not be
cleaned or boiled before use
(WHO Care of Umbilical Cord 1999)
http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/showthread.
php?1467-Home-Spun-Bark-Fiber-Fishing-
Line
http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/15963716
5/10/2023 9
by Yonas
10. Umbilical Cord Care: Traditional Practices
Leaving the Cord Long
Reason: belief that short umbilical cords cause a small
uterus and narrow hips difficulty with childbirth
Problem: more difficult to keep clean (contact feces and urine)
Applying Substances to Cord
Reasons: prevent bleeding, promote separation, keep spirits away
Substances: ash, oil, butter, spice pastes,
herbs, mud, dung (cow, chicken, rat)
Problem: substances often contaminated with bacteria
***dung application very dangerous: high risk neonatal tetanus
(WHO Care of Umbilical Cord 1999)
http://www.cordbloodbankingcanada.ca/
http://www.cepolina.com/mud_argil_water.html
5/10/2023 10
by Yonas
11. Umbilical Cord Care: Traditional Practices
Binding abdomen with cloth or bandages
Reasons: prevent bulging or protrusion of umbilicus
secure internal organs
protect stump from “bad air”
Problem: keeps stump moist, delays healing
increases infection risk (especially if unclean material used)
does not prevent umbilical hernias
(WHO Care of Umbilical Cord 1999)
5/10/2023 11
by Yonas
12. Cord Clamping: When and Why?
Timing of cord clamping
when pulsations cease which is about 3 minutes after birth
Why
↑ newborns red cell count and iron stores
↓ iron deficiency anemia (Hutton and Hassan 2007)
early clamping traps neonatal blood in placenta
early clamping required in emergencies (need for resuscitation)
Essential delivery care practices
for maternal and newborn
health and nutrition, 2007.
http://www.paho.org
5/10/2023 12
by Yonas
13. How to Cut the Umbilical Cord
Wash hands with clean water and soap before cutting/tying cord
Place baby on clean surface. Wear gloves if in hospital
Use 2 ties at least 15 cm in length
Home: use clean string ties or threads Hospital: sterile ties or clamp
Tightly apply one tie 2 cm (2 fingers) and another tie 5 cm (4 fingers)
from abdomen
Tie tightly to prevent bleeding
when the jelly shrinks and dries
(WHO Care of the Umbilical Cord 1999)
http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/290368/enlarge
5/10/2023 13
by Yonas
14. How to Cut the Umbilical Cord
Cut between ties or clamps with sterile instrument
Home: sterile blade (razor blade in original packing considered sterile)
if unavailable, use knife or scissors boiled for 10 minutes
Hospital: sterile scissors or blade
Observe for bleeding; apply additional tie between skin and tie if present
(WHO Care of the Umbilical Cord 1999)
http://collections.infocollections.org/ukedu/uk/d/Jh1436e/15.1.html
5/10/2023 14
by Yonas
16. Care of the Umbilical Cord
Wash hands before and after cord care
Leave stump uncovered
Fold diaper below stump
Put nothing on the stump
Do not bind or bandage stump
If soiled, wash with clean water and soap, dry thoroughly
5/10/2023 16
by Yonas
17. Does the Umbilical Cord Require
Antiseptics Applied Routinely?
No
• No difference in infection comparing topical antiseptics, dry cord care
and topical antibiotics (Zupan, 2004)
• Antiseptics delay cord separation; interrupt normal process (Novak,
1988)
Exceptions
• If harmful traditional practice used, antiseptic application required
• If infant separated from the mother in a nursery or intensive care:
antiseptic likely required (e.g. chlorhexidine, triple dye)
• Check each institutions specific policy and procedure
5/10/2023 17
by Yonas
18. Umbilical Cord: Normal Drying and Separation
http://newborns.stanford.edu/PhotoGallery/Cord1.html
http://newborns.stanford.edu/PhotoGallery/Cord4.html
http://newborns.stanford.edu/PhotoGallery/CordVessels1.html
http://newborns.stanford.edu/PhotoGallery/Cord5.html
Just after falling off
1 2
3 4
5/10/2023 18
by Yonas
19. Umbilical Cord Care: Maternal Education
Cord will dry and shrink
Usually falls off before the end of the second week of life
(Wilson, 1985)
Never pull the cord or attempt to loosen it
A small drop of blood may be present when the cord falls off
Seek help if redness or drainage of blood or pus develops (risk
of infection and/or bleeding)
http://www.smartparentshealthykids.com/blog/?p=9
Omphalitis
5/10/2023 19
by Yonas
20. Five cleans to prevent infection
Clean hands of attendants
(washed with soap)
Clean surface for delivery Sterile cutting instrument
to cut cord(i.e. razor blade)
Clean string to tie cord
Cloth to wrap baby and mother
Clean cloth to wrap baby
5/10/2023 20
by Yonas
21. Management
General measures: IV fluid, O2, quite dark room,
Antibiotics: to eradicate the source of tetanus toxin
Antitoxin (TIG or TAT): to neutralizes circulating
toxin
Control of muscle spasms: Diazepam
Respiratory care: gentle suctioning, tracheostomy
5/10/2023 21
by Yonas
22. Control of muscle spasms
The patient should be admitted to a quiet,
darkened room where all possible auditory,
visual, tactile, or other stimuli are minimized.
Diazepam controls spasms better and safer than
other options (The initial dose of 0.1–0.2mg/kg
every 3–6 hr given intravenously is subsequently
titrated to control the tetanic spasms);
5/10/2023 22
by Yonas
23. Control of muscle spasms
Other drugs which can be used in combination
with diazepam include:
Chlorpromazine (1-5mg/kg/dose q8hr)
Phenobarbitone (loading dose 20mg/kg,
then 2.5mg/kg/dose q12hr, increased to max
5mg/kg/dose q12hr)
5/10/2023 23
by Yonas
24. Antitoxin therapy
Tetanus immunoglobulin ( TIG)/human tetanus
immunoglobulin should be given intramuscularly in
a single dose (3,000 to 6,000 IU)
If human serum immunoglobulin is unavailable,
tetanus antitoxin ( TAT) should be given,
assuming sensitivity reactions to horse serum are
negative
The antitoxin is given intravenously and
intramuscularly (half of the dose via each route)
5/10/2023 24
by Yonas
25. Antimicrobial therapy
• Metronidazole (30 mg/kg/day, given at six hour
intervals; maximum 4 g/day) or
• Parenteral penicillin G (100,000 U/kg/day) is an
alternative. Treatment for 10 to 14 days is
recommended
5/10/2023 25
by Yonas
26. Supportive treatment
Oxygen should be available. During early
stages, oral feeding should be avoided
because of the danger of aspiration
A continuous intra- venous infusion can
provide fluid
5/10/2023 26
by Yonas
27. Respiratory care
Meticulous nursing care is imperative
Gentle suctioning of or pharyngeal suctions is
done although tracheotomy need not be
considered a routine procedure, it should be
done prior to the development of severe
asphyxia
5/10/2023 27
by Yonas
28. Mortality is about 90%
Bad prognostic signs include
I. Onset in the first week of life
II. Interval between lock jaw ( trismus) and onset
of muscle spasms less than 48 hrs
III. High fever
IV. Tachycardia
Recovery is almost complete
An attack of tetanus does not confer immunity
so active immunization following recovery is a
must
Prognosis
5/10/2023 28
by Yonas
29. Prevention
Universal immunizations of pregnant
mothers between 16 and 36 weeks of
pregnancy with 2 doses of tetanus toxoid
can prevent neonatal tetanus
The second dose should be given at least
4 weeks before the expected date of
delivery
5/10/2023 29
by Yonas
30. Global accelerated disease control issues
• 2005 target date for elimination of NNT.
• To reduce the incidence of case to <1: 1000 live
births per year in every district. (MNT elimination
definition)
– Increase TT coverage
– TT Campaign in high risk areas ( three rounds)
– Promote clean delivery
– Improve surveillance & reporting of neonatal
tetanus
• As the bacteria also survives in the environment,
eradication is not feasible and vaccination has to
continue after the goal.
tetanus can not be eradicated but eliminated
30
by Yonas
5/10/2023
Editor's Notes
Death due to complications unless supportive care provided
more common in rural area (inadequate aseptic measures)
Nerves are important to sense for light sound stimulation
A case confirmed by the physician can be considered as Neonatal Tetanus
Nepal: “a new thread for the new baby”
The effect of bleeding using topical applications has not been studied
In KwaZulu-Natal29 and in some communities in Kenya,25 some women apply expressed breast milk (colostrum) to the cord stump (this could in fact be beneficial in view of the antibacterial factors present in breast milk).
The most likely mechanism is that the practice of early clamping forces a substantial volume of neonatal blood to remain in the placenta. Stopping this physiological redistribution of blood between the placenta and the infant's body interrupts the final stage of the maternal transfer of a critical iron reserve to her infant.
Cover cord with gauze to prevent blood splashing
Place hand between baby and the cutting instrument
Observe for oozing blood every 15 minutes; if blood oozes, place a second tie
No study comparing sterile ties with clean ties or clamps was found. It is generally recommended that the ties/clamps be sterile since they are in contact with a mucous membrane. (WHO, 1999)
Rubber bands: some authors suggest clamping the cord with a rubber band since inelastic tying material such as thread or string may loosen after a day and increase the risk of bleeding and infection. However, an instrument is needed to apply the rubber band.The rubber band must be very small to be effective. (WHO 1999)
Antiseptics delay cord separation due to decrease in white cells attracted to cord as separation mediated by white blood cell infiltration) (Novak, 1988)
The infant is managed in a quite room with minimal handling since any stimulus can precipitate spasms
Initially it is not possible to feed the infant orally, therefore, IV fluids are given to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
Oxygen is required as frequent spasms leads to hypoxemia
TIG is derived from humans
A single dose of 500 units is administered intramuscularly
There is no need to infiltrate it around the umbilicus
TIG does not cross the blood brain barrier
intratechal use of TIG is still experimental and its role is not well established
There is no need to repeat the dose as it has long half life
Various drugs have been used to control muscle spasms: diazepam, chlorpromazine, magnesium sulphate, baclofen, dantrolene and barbiturates
Diazepam is commonly used in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg intravenously every 3-6hrs
Doses as high as 20-40mg/kg/day as continuous IV infusions have been used to control spasm in some cases
Therapy is generally is generally required for 2-6 weeks
The dose may be tapered as muscle spasm and rigidity subside
Intractable muscle spasms are managed by neuromuscular blokaed and mechanical ventilation
TAT is derived from equines
Though it is cheaper but it has a shorter half life and is associated with adverse effects like serum sickness and hypersensitivity and is no longer preferred
The recommended dose is 500 units, half is given intravenously and rest is given intramuscularly
It neutralizes circulating toxin
The toxin already bound to tissues remains unaffected two types of preparations are available
Tetanus immunoglobulin ( TIG)
Tetanus antitoxin ( TAT)
Neonatal Tetanus is a generalized tetanus caused by bacterium Clostridium tetani which are universally present in the soil. The disease is caused by the action of a potent neurotoxin produced during the growth of the bacteria in dead tissues, e.g. in dirty wounds or in the umbilicus following non-sterile delivery.