Reference no: EM132416821

The Case of the Scraped Gardener

A 52 year old horticulturist was admiring his garden of lilies when he noticed a weed in the middle of his flowers. He had left his gloves in the house. Unfortunately when he went to remove the invasive weed, the tiny thorny base gouged his hand. He immediately went into the house and washed the wound and added some topical antibiotic just in case. However, within a day he noticed a puffy red swelling around the gash. By the second day he became concerned when he awoke to find that when he tried to get up out of bed he found walking difficult. He immediately called his son who came to take him to the ER of the local Hospital immediately. By the time he reached the hospital he began to experience difficulty with speech and muscle spasms. The doctor inspected the wound site and noted the now severe swelling. He was more concerned by his patient's growing respiratory distress and acute muscle spasms.

The physician contacted the woman's primary care giver. He found that he had not received a Tetanus booster in more than ten years. Troubled by this information, he immediately intubated his patient and administered counter measures.

Case Study Questions

1. Which immunization should the patient have received? When is the recommended period for booster shots?

2. The causative agent for this disease is _______________________.

3. Describe three identifying characteristics of this organism?

4. How did the organisms enter the hand of the gardener?

5. What causes the paralysis?

6. What other organisms belong to this Genus that is medically significant? Describe at least three.