Reduction of mortality due to tetanus by immunisation and proper wound management of the patients in Sengerema Designated District Hospital, Tanzania.

Reduction of mortality due to tetanus by immunisation and proper wound management of the patients in Sengerema Designated District Hospital, Tanzania.
Trop Doct. 2014 Feb 5;
Authors: Melkert D, Kahema L, Melkert P
Abstract
Tetanus is a life-threatening, preventable infection with a high mortality. Our aim was to determine the changes in incidence and case fatality rate at Sengerema Designated District Hospital in a retrospective review of patients who had been hospitalised with tetanus between 1962 and 2012. In the 1970s and 1980s a vaccination campaign was organised in order to cover the whole district and to provide immunity for tetanus. Data are based on 476 cases with a fatal outcome in 305 cases. The case fatality rate has declined from 74% between 1982 and 1991 to 11.1% currently. Improved facilities are required in order to significantly reduce adverse outcome from tetanus.
PMID: 24499727 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Tropical Doctor - February 5, 2014 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Melkert D, Kahema L, Melkert P Tags: Trop Doct Source Type: research