Developing tetanus does not provide the patient with life long immunity, thus those who develop tetanus should still subsequently undergo a course of immunisation. Because of the particular mode of transmission of tetanus infection, it is important that all people are completely immunised because herd or community immunity cannot occur. Herd1 or community immunity occurs where the number of susceptible, or un-immunised individuals is so low, the disease-causing organism cannot be transmitted from person to person because of the lack of available hosts. Because of this mode of transmission, tetanus cannot be eradicated over time like smallpox and other diseases have been.3
Tetanus is uncommon in Australia, an average of 8.5 cases are notified each year.2There may however be more cases but, because of difficulties with recognition of the disease, it is likely that not all cases have been reported.4, 5 and 9 In developing countries, tetanus is a serious health threat and, because of the lack of intensive care resources, it is usually fatal.6 In such countries there is no consensus on appropriate therapeutic interventions, with little evidence of treatments having been rigorously evaluated.6 This may result from the small numbers of cases seen.