Reduction of mortality due to tetanus by immunisation and proper wound management of the patients in Sengerema Designated District Hospital, Tanzania

Tetanus is a life-threatening, preventable infection with a high mortality. Our aim was to determine the changes in incidence and case fatality rate at Sengerema Designated District Hospital in a retrospective review of patients who had been hospitalised with tetanus between 1962 and 2012. In the 1970s and 1980s a vaccination campaign was organised in order to cover the whole district and to provide immunity for tetanus. Data are based on 476 cases with a fatal outcome in 305 cases. The case fatality rate has declined from 74% between 1982 and 1991 to 11.1% currently. Improved facilities are required in order to significantly reduce adverse outcome from tetanus.