(ATI/HESI from external source): A client with tetanus is receiving benzodiazepines for muscle spasms. The nurse knows that benzodiazepines act by:

Choice A rationale:

Tetanus is not commonly transmitted from person to person. Instead, it is usually acquired through the introduction of the Clostridium tetani bacterium into a wound, where it can produce the neurotoxin tetanospasmin.

Choice B rationale:

Tetanus is not effectively treated with antibiotics alone. Antibiotics can help control the infection caused by Clostridium tetani, but the primary treatment involves providing tetanus antitoxin to neutralize the neurotoxin already present in the body.

Choice C rationale:

Booster doses of tetanus vaccine are not recommended every 5 years. The standard recommendation is to receive a tetanus booster every 10 years to maintain protection against the disease.

Choice A rationale:

The statement "I have difficulty opening my mouth due to muscle spasms" is characteristic of localized tetanus. In localized tetanus, muscle spasms are limited to the area near the site of infection or injury, and in this case, it affects the muscles around the mouth, leading to trismus or lockjaw.

Choice B rationale:

Involuntary laughter during muscle spasms is not characteristic of localized tetanus. It is not a typical sign or symptom of the condition.

Choice C rationale:

Arching of the back and difficulty breathing are characteristic signs of generalized tetanus, not localized tetanus. Generalized tetanus involves widespread muscle spasms, including those of the respiratory muscles.

Choice D rationale:

Facial muscle paralysis and slurred speech are not characteristic of localized tetanus. These symptoms are more commonly seen in conditions affecting the cranial nerves or other neurological disorders.