Systematic Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology

CONTROL AND PREVENTION

• The disease is due to the action of the toxin, and hence, the obvious and most dependable method of prevention is to build up antitoxic immunity by active immunization.
• The available methods of prophylaxis are
  • Surgical attention
  • Antibiotics
  • Immunization – passive, active or combined.
• Surgical attention aims at removal of foreign bodies, necrotic tissue and blood clots, in order that an anerobic environment favourable for the tetanus bacillus is not provided.
• Flushing with hydrogen peroxide in the wound area is produces aerobic conditions.
• Tetanus can be prevented by antibiotics (Large doses of penicillin) when administered 4hrs after infection but not after eight hrs. Hence, prompt administration is essential.
• Bacitracin or neomycin may be applied locally.
• Penicillin can be given as both injections and orally till healing is established. Antibiotics have no action on the toxin.
• Antitoxin should be administered promptly, either i/vly or into the sub arachnoid space, on three consecutive days to neutralize unbound toxin.
• Toxoid may be given subcutaneously to promote an active immune response even on those animals, which have received antitoxin.
• For prevention, the farm animals should be vaccinated routinely with tetanus toxoid.