title: [Tetanus risk assessment in the older outpatients: Usefulness of the "Tétanos Quick Stick ®"?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tetanus is a serious disease, which could be potentially lethal. All cases are observed in patients inadequately immunized. The immunochromatographic tests (including Tetanos quick Stick(®) [TQS]) have demonstrated their efficiency in emergency setting. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of these tests in elderly outpatients seen in ambulatory settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included patients aged 65 years and over who presented to the outpatients' clinic of the Gerontologic Departmental Center (Marseille). A TQS and a self-administered questionnaire to assess risk factors for tetanus were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-two patients were studied. The prevalence of positive TQS was 66%. Patients have an average of 2.5 risk factors for tetanus. Negative TQS was observed in 35% of patients who had seen their general practitioner for a wound during the previous year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly patients accumulate several risk factors regardless of age and lifestyle. While physicians are familiar with the vaccine recommendations, they are often faced with the difficulty of assessing patient's status based only on the patient's interview, which is frequently not reliable. The implementation of immunochromatographic tests in general practice could help physicians in the management of patients at risk for tetanus.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de gériatrie polyvalente, centre gérontologique départemental, 176, avenue de Montolivet, 13012 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicolaï
authors.affiliation: Pôle de gériatrie polyvalente, centre gérontologique départemental, 176, avenue de Montolivet, 13012 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farcet
authors.affiliation: Pôle de gériatrie polyvalente, centre gérontologique départemental, 176, avenue de Montolivet, 13012 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molines
authors.affiliation: Pôle de gériatrie polyvalente, centre gérontologique départemental, 176, avenue de Montolivet, 13012 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delalande
authors.affiliation: Pôle de gériatrie polyvalente, centre gérontologique départemental, 176, avenue de Montolivet, 13012 Marseille, France; EA3279, évaluation des systèmes de soins - santé perçue, université de la Méditerranée, 13006 Marseille, France; Département de médecine interne et maladies infectieuses, hôpital Européen, rue Désirée-Clary, 13001 Marseille, France. Electronic address: fretornaz.cgd13@e-santepaca.fr.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Retornaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013742:Tetanus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D013745:Tetanus Toxoid
keywords: Elderly; General practitioners; Médecine générale; Prevalence; Prévalence; Sujets âgés; Tetanus; Tétanos; « Tétanos Quick Stick(®) »; “Tétanos Quick Stick(®)”