title: [Characteristics of Clostridium tetani and laboratory diagnosis of tetanus].
abstract: The causative agent of tetanus is the obligate anaerobic bacterium--Clostridium tetani. These bacteria form endospores that are able to survive long periods of exposure to air and other adverse environmental conditions. Infection generally occurs through wound contamination. We can distinguish several forms of tetanus: generalized, local and neonatal. Diagnosis of tetanus is based primarily on the patient's clinical symptoms (muscle cramps, painful back muscle spasms, generalized contractions of the arcuate curvature of the body) as well as on microbiological diagnosis. This article is a brief review of C. tetani and diagnosis of infections caused by these organisms in humans.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smietańska
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rokosz-Chudziak
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rastawicki
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D013742:Tetanus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*