Treatment of tetanus: an open study to compare the efficacy of procaine penicillin and metronidazole

Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985 Sep 7;291(6496):648-50. doi: 10.1136/bmj.291.6496.648.

Abstract

A prospective, open, non-randomised clinical trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of procaine penicillin with metronidazole in the treatment of moderate tetanus among 173 patients. Patients in the metronidazole group had a significantly lower mortality rate, a shorter stay in hospital, and an improved response to treatment. These results establish the value of antimicrobial treatment in the management of tetanus and show that metronidazole is more efficacious than penicillin in this respect.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Clostridium tetani / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use*
  • Penicillin G / therapeutic use*
  • Penicillin G Procaine / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tetanus / drug therapy*
  • Tetanus / microbiology

Substances

  • Metronidazole
  • Penicillin G Procaine
  • Penicillin G