Australian national notifiable diseases case definitions
Tetanus case definition
This document contains the case definitions for tetanus which is nationally notifiable within Australia. This definition should be used to determine whether a case should be notified.
Communicable Diseases Surveillance
Print friendly version of Surveillance case definition for tetanus (PDF 8 KB)
| Version | Status | Last reviewed | Endorsement date | Implementation date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | No change | CDWG 9 March 2011 | CDNA 23 January 2012 | 1 February 2012 |
| 1.0 | Initial case definition (2004) | | | |
Reporting
Only confirmed cases should be notified.Confirmed case
A confirmed case requires either:Laboratory definitive evidence OR clinical evidence.
Laboratory definitive evidence
Isolation of Clostridium tetani from a wound in a compatible clinical setting and prevention of positive tetanospasm in mouse test from such an isolate using specific tetanus antitoxin.Clinical evidence
A clinically compatible illness without other apparent cause.
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