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ObjectivesTetanus is a vaccine-preventable infectious disease. It is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The aim of this study was to investigate tetanus immunity among adult trauma patients.Material and methodsThis study was performed with 267 trauma patients who were admitted to the emergency department of Tepecik Training and Research Hospital in Izmir City, Turkey over a six month period. After obtaining a written informed consent from each patient, a questionnaire concerning demographic information and tetanus vaccination history was filled in by the physician. Patients' blood samples (4–5 cc) were drawn into a test tube while creating an intravenous (IV) access prior to making any attempt for therapy. And the tetanus antibody level (IgG) was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Tetanus antibody levels ≥0.1 IU/mL were considered protective.ResultsAmong 267 patients, 192 and 75 of the cases (71.9% and 28.1%) were male and female, respectively. The median age of the patients was 39 (IQRs = 28–52). Seventy-five percent of the patients (n = 201) had protective immunity rates for tetanus.Discussion and conclusionIn our study, which was conducted among adults, it was found that the protective ratio of tetanus immunity decreased with age with an additional, significant decline in elderly patients.

Oxygen is the main treatment of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. In two simultaneous cases, the efficacy of conventional and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-administered oxygen therapy was compared. A 63-year-old man and his 58-year-old wife were brought to the emergency department with complaints of dizziness, headache, and nausea. The man had a history of congestive heart failure and additionally had shortness of breath. Initial carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) values were 26% in the male patient and 24% in his wife. For the female patient, oxygen therapy was performed with a reservoir balloon mask; a CPAP device was used for the male patient. The COHb levels decreased below five percent after approximately two hours in the male patient and at the end of five hours in his wife. In follow-up, symptomatic relief was achieved in both patients and no additional complications were observed. According to our experience, CPAP ventilation can be a new and effective method for oxygen therapy in CO poisoning.

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