Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38077302›Full record

ArticleInfection and drug resistance2023

Tetanus Following Canine Bite in Japan: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Jun Hirai, Nobuaki Mori, Yuichi Shibata, Nobuhiro Asai, Mao Hagihara, Hiroshige Mikamo

Open access · goldAbstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Infection and drug resistance, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 29% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Tetanus after trauma despite post-exposure prophylaxis with human tetanus immunoglobulin: A case report.Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Jun HiraiDepartment of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-9184-7175
Nobuaki MoriDepartment of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-1433-0276
Yuichi ShibataDepartment of Infection, Prevention, and Control, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
Nobuhiro AsaiDepartment of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
Mao HagiharaDepartment of Molecular Epidemiology and Biomedical Sciences, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
Hiroshige MikamoDepartment of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
Aichi Medical University Hospital · JPAichi Medical University · JP

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The incidence of tetanus has significantly declined in developed countries owing to widespread vaccination efforts. However, it remains a threat worldwide, including in Japan, because of the sharp decline in antibody titers against tetanus in adults. Animal bites, including canine bites, are potential sources of tetanus infection. This case highlights the rarity of tetanus caused by canine bites and the need for continued vigilance for tetanus prevention. This case report and literature review aimed to shed light on the clinical course and outcomes of tetanus following a canine bite. Case Presentation: A 46-year-old Japanese man with no medical history presented with symptoms of tetanus, such as difficulty in opening his mouth, 19 days after a canine bite on his right hand. He was born and brought up in Japan. He had never been vaccinated against tetanus. Despite washing the wound and receiving human tetanus immunoglobulin (HTIG) and a tetanus toxoid vaccine, the patient developed tetanus. After intravenous metronidazole and HTIG were administered, the symptoms improved gradually. The patient was discharged after a 12-day hospital stay. Discussion: This is the first reported case of canine bite-induced tetanus in Japan, where tetanus toxoid vaccination is provided routinely. This case highlights the waning immunity in adults and the critical need for education on tetanus immunization, including catch-up immunization, particularly for adults and individuals in high-risk occupations. A review of the existing literature revealed only four cases of tetanus following canine bites between 1889 and 2018. All patients experienced symptom onset between 3 and 19 days post injury. Treatment typically involved HTIG, metronidazole, and toxoid administration. A higher risk of mortality is seen in unvaccinated individuals than in vaccinated individuals, highlighting the critical role of tetanus vaccination. Conclusion: Physicians should consider canine bite-induced tetanus in the differential diagnosis when patients exhibit relevant symptoms.

Indexed as

bitecanineClostridium tetaniJapantetanusvaccine

Identifiers

PMID38077302
PMCPMC10705509
OpenAlexW4389300402

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.