Sook-In Jung1, Hyun-Ha Chang2, Sohyun Bae3, Minsik Go4, Yoonjung Kim3, Soyoon Hwang3, Shin-Woo Kim3, Ki Tae Kwon3. 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Chonnam National University Medical School, 42 Jebongro, Donggu, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea. sijung@chonnam.ac.kr. 2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, South Korea. changhha@knu.ac.kr. 3. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, South Korea. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, South Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tetanus is a rare, vaccine-preventable but extremely serious disease. We investigated the recent trend of the clinical outcomes and medical costs for inpatients with tetanus in South Korea over 10 years. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review to determine the clinical factors and medical costs associated with tetanus at two national university hospitals in South Korea between January 2011 and October 2019. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were admitted for tetanus (mean age, 67.0 years [range, 53.0-80.0 years]; 32 women [57.1%]). All the patients had generalized tetanus, and 5 (10.2%) died during hospitalization. The median duration from symptom onset to hospital admission was 4 days. Trismus (85.7%) was the most common symptom, and the median hospital stay was 39 days. Thirty-two patients (65.3%) required mechanical ventilation, and 20 (40.8%) developed aspiration pneumonia. The median total healthcare cost per patient was US $18,011. After discharge, 35 patients (71.4%) recovered sufficiently to walk without disability. CONCLUSIONS: Tetanus requires long hospital stays and high medical expenditures in South Korea; however, the vaccination completion rate is low. Medical staff should therefore promote medical advice and policies on the management of tetanus to the general South Korean population.
BACKGROUND:Tetanus is a rare, vaccine-preventable but extremely serious disease. We investigated the recent trend of the clinical outcomes and medical costs for inpatients with tetanus in South Korea over 10 years. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review to determine the clinical factors and medical costs associated with tetanus at two national university hospitals in South Korea between January 2011 and October 2019. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were admitted for tetanus (mean age, 67.0 years [range, 53.0-80.0 years]; 32 women [57.1%]). All the patients had generalized tetanus, and 5 (10.2%) died during hospitalization. The median duration from symptom onset to hospital admission was 4 days. Trismus (85.7%) was the most common symptom, and the median hospital stay was 39 days. Thirty-two patients (65.3%) required mechanical ventilation, and 20 (40.8%) developed aspiration pneumonia. The median total healthcare cost per patient was US $18,011. After discharge, 35 patients (71.4%) recovered sufficiently to walk without disability. CONCLUSIONS:Tetanus requires long hospital stays and high medical expenditures in South Korea; however, the vaccination completion rate is low. Medical staff should therefore promote medical advice and policies on the management of tetanus to the general South Korean population.
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