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Why can contaminated wounds create a risk of tetanus?
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wound
Injuries that break skin can be painfully memorable.
Contaminated wounds create a risk of tetanus because they can harbor spores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which are widely distributed in nature, particularly in soil.1
While these spores can enter the body through any injury, deep lacerations and puncture wounds are especially dangerous. These types of wounds provide the oxygen-free environment necessary for the microorganisms to grow and produce tetanospasmin, a potent neurotoxin that causes the severe muscle spasms and rigidity characteristic of tetanus.1
Because contaminated wounds are considered prone to this infection, medical professionals prioritize thorough cleansing to remove foreign material and typically administer appropriate immunization to prevent the disease.12