• D Nicolaï, A Farcet, C Molines, G Delalande, and F Retornaz.
• Pôle de gériatrie polyvalente, centre gérontologique départemental, 176, avenue de Montolivet, 13012 Marseille, France.
• Rev Med Interne. 2015 May 1; 36 (5): 307-11.

IntroductionTetanus is a serious disease, which could be potentially lethal. All cases are observed in patients inadequately immunized. The immunochromatographic tests (including Tetanos quick Stick(®) [TQS]) have demonstrated their efficiency in emergency setting. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of these tests in elderly outpatients seen in ambulatory settings.MaterialsThis prospective study included patients aged 65 years and over who presented to the outpatients' clinic of the Gerontologic Departmental Center (Marseille). A TQS and a self-administered questionnaire to assess risk factors for tetanus were performed.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-two patients were studied. The prevalence of positive TQS was 66%. Patients have an average of 2.5 risk factors for tetanus. Negative TQS was observed in 35% of patients who had seen their general practitioner for a wound during the previous year.ConclusionElderly patients accumulate several risk factors regardless of age and lifestyle. While physicians are familiar with the vaccine recommendations, they are often faced with the difficulty of assessing patient's status based only on the patient's interview, which is frequently not reliable. The implementation of immunochromatographic tests in general practice could help physicians in the management of patients at risk for tetanus.Copyright © 2014 Société nationale française de médecine interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

29 keywords...

hide…