TETANUS - A COMPLICATION OF PARENTERAL DRUG-ABUSE

A drug addict suffering from tetanus is described in order to alert ph ysicians into recognizing this life-threatening complication of parent eral drug abuse. This young man had used all accessible veins and star ted injecting heroin subcutaneously. This resulted in numerous cutaneo us ulcers and abscesses-the probable site of Clostridium tetani infect ion. Prompt recognition and appropriate management resulted in complet e recovery after a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit.