1552 - Clinical Outcomes and Healthcare Costs of Inpatients with Tetanus in Korea in 2011–2019

Background: We aimed to investigate the recent trend of clinical outcomes and medical costs of inpatients with tetanus, which is a rare, vaccine-preventable but extremely grave disease, in Korea, in 2011–2019 for the first time.

Methods: From January 2011 to October 2019, this study examined 49 patients with tetanus admitted in 2 national university hospitals in Gwangju and Daegu of South Korea. Patients’ medical records were retrospectively reviewed to determine the clinical factors and medical cost for tetanus management.

Results: The mean age was 65.3 ± 16.1 years and 32 (65.3%) of them were female. All patients (100.0%) had generalized tetanus, and 5 (10.2%) died during admission. The median duration from symptom onset to hospital visit was 4 days. Trismus (85.7%) was the most common symptom, and wound of the lower extremities (24.5%) was the most frequent presumed entry site of toxin. Only 6 (15.0%) patients were operated for wound management. The median hospital stay was 39 (9; 49) days. Furthermore, 32 (65.3%) needed mechanical ventilation, and 20 (40.8%) patients developed aspiration pneumonia. The median total healthcare cost was 21,072 KRW(Korean Republic Won) (17,560 USD(United States Dollar); 1 USD = 1200 KRW) per person. After discharge, 35 (79.5%) patients fully recovered without any disability.

Conclusion: Tetanus remains a grave disease that requires long duration of admission and huge medical cost in Korea. The completion rate of 3-time tetanus toxoid (Td) or tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis and diphtheria vaccine (Tdap) vaccination was low; thus, the medical staff needs to establish more medical advice or policies to the general population of Korea