title: Tetanus in an injecting buprenorphine abuser.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injecting drug abusers are vulnerable to many infectious complications. We describe a case of tetanus in a Singaporean who regularly abused buprenorphine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 49-year-old male was hospitalised for progressive generalised spasms associated with dysarthria and opisthotonus. Tetanus was diagnosed clinically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Supportive management was instituted in the intensive care unit (ICU). Toxicology samples tested positive for buprenorphine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  He recovered rapidly and was transferred out of the ICU after 8 days. Retrospective questioning confirmed parenteral abuse of buprenorphine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case highlights an uncommon and potentially lethal complication of parenteral drug abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. felicia.teo.s.w@singhealth.com.sg
authors.forename: Felicia S W
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Li Yang
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Khim Nian Sin Fai
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johan
mesh_terms: D002047:Buprenorphine; D018450:Disease Progression; D004401:Dysarthria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012846:Singapore; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013742:Tetanus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine