ANTITETANUS PROPHYLAXIS IN THE KUMANOVO REGION 2020-2021

Abstract

Tetanus (synonyms: tetanus, bad cramp) is an acute infectious disease of bacterial nature that belongs to the group of zoonoses Clostridium tetani. It attacks the nervous system and is characterized by painful and uncontrolled tonic-clonic muscle cramps, can cause painful cramps, difficulty breathing, and abnormal heart rhythms, and has a high mortality rate. Tetanus spores are introduced into the body through various types of wounds. Anaerobic conditions and tissue necrosis are necessary for the transformation of spores into vegetative forms, and the accompanying bacterial flora and various foreign bodies in the wound act favorably. Tetanus can be prevented with an effective and safe combination vaccine. Tetanus in the Republic of Macedonia no longer represents an epidemiological problem in terms of incidence, which was mainly contributed by mandatory immunization, especially vaccination, which has been applied in the Republic of Macedonia since 1952. The main goal of this paper is to show the epidemiological characteristics of tetanus in the Kumanovo region, to show the incidence of tetanus in the region and to determine the number of patients who received anti-tetanus prophylaxis. In this research, materials from the Emergency Center of the General Hospital in Kumanovo and data from the Epidemiological Institute in Kumanovo were used so that we can make a comparison of the incidence of tetanus infection from how the tetanus immunization was introduced and its effectiveness.
In the Kumanovo region in the period from (01.01.2020 ) to (01.01.2021), 4320 cases of suspected tetanus injury were recorded in which anti-tetanus prophylaxis was carried out. The percentage ratio between men and women for receiving a vaccine or serum against tetanus in 2020 is 2815 men and 1505 women. The most common patients in the studied group who were exposed to post-exposure prophylaxis were men aged >40 years and it is 82.4%. 65% of patients who suffered a tetanogenic injury live in a city and 45% live in a village. Based on the reason for which the patients came to Emergency Center – Kumanovo GH, there are mostly patients with Vulnus Lacerocontusums. Often these wounds were caused by various triggers such as trees, contaminated objects, contaminated nails and the like.