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The following article was written by Hayley Jackson, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC. A board-certified family nurse practitioner, Hayley provides Express Care Services at Wood River Health. She is passionate about holistic patient-centered care, lifestyle medicine and women’s health.
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Among the many conditions that exist, tetanus is at the top of the list of those you would never want to get. This disease is caused by a bacteria called clostridium tetani that enters the skin through a wound (such as stepping on a nail or a cut).
This bacterium commonly lives in soil and on the surface of rusted objects. When the bacteria gets into the skin—especially deeply, it starts to produce a toxin that causes severe muscle spasming. This results in an all-too-often fatal disease process.
Now that the bad news is out of the way….there is very good news: This is 100% preventable.
Tetanus is preventable by staying up to date with the tetanus vaccine. This is recommended to get once every 10 years (or sooner if you suffer a particular injury). If you cannot remember when your last booster was, it is safe to get another booster even if it was sooner than the ten-year mark—especially if you have suffered a high risk injury.
Here at Wood River Health, we offer nurse appointments where we can administer vaccines if you are due. Tetanus is a great vaccine to ask about at your next yearly physical!