MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Clostridium tetani

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Lockjaw, tetanus

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram positive sporeforming rod; single, spheric, terminal endospore; clubbed appearance; strict anaerobe; swarming on blood agar grown anaerobically; produces an exotoxin (tetanospasmin)

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: An acute disease induced by a neurotoxin; painful muscular contractions, primarily of neck muscles, secondarily of trunk muscles; abdominal rigidity, generalized spasms; 30-90% case fatality rate

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; sporadic and relatively uncommon in North America and industrial countries; more common in agricultural regions and underdeveloped areas where contact with animal excreta is likely and immunization is inadequate; important cause of death in tropical areas; drug addict cases

HOST RANGE: Humans, animals

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Toxin is extremely potent

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Tetanus spores introduced into the body through a wound contaminated with soil, street dust or feces, or injected street drugs; also through lacerations, burns and trivial wounds

INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 3-21 days; average 10 days; shorter incubation periods are associated with more heavily contaminated wounds

COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmitted from person to person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Intestine of animals and humans; soil contaminated with animal and rarely human feces

ZOONOSlS: Yes - wound contamination with soil or feces (agricultural workers subject to cuts, especially where herbivore animals are raised)

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Generally susceptible to many antibiotics, including penicillin G, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, piperacillin and imipenem

DRUG RESISTANCE: Resistant to the aminoglycosides

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Spores are resistant to many disinfectants; moderately susceptible to sodium hypochlorite; susceptible to high level disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde with a prolonged contact time

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Spores are fairly resistant to heat but are destroyed after 15 min contact with moist heat (121°C)

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Manure - several days; soil - spores survive long periods; textiles - 730 days

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; no detectable antibody response and organism is rarely recovered from site of infection

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Tetanus immune globulin (TIG) as soon as possible following the wound; if not available, tetanus antitoxin (equine origin) following testing for hypersensitivity; wound should be debrided and excised; mechanically assisted respiration may be necessary

IMMUNIZATION: Active immunization with adsorbed tetanus toxoid; generally administered together with diphtheria toxoid administered at l0-year intervals

PROPHYLAXIS: Prophylaxis in wound management: booster dose of toxoid if more than 10 years have elapsed; passive immunization with TIG; depends on whether wound is clean or contaminated, the immune status of patient. Antibiotics not effective

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Risk is low; 5 incidents related to exposure of personnel during manipulation of toxin

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Clinical specimens - wound exudates

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation and ingestion of the toxin; it is unclear whether tetanus toxin can be absorbed through mucous membranes; hazards associated with aerosols and droplets are not fully understood

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving the manipulation of cultures or toxin

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wear protective clothing; gently cover spill with paper towels and apply a suitable disinfectant (high level for spores, or 1% sodium hypochlorite), starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: January 2000

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001

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