Problem
A 60 year old botanist was admiring her garden of lilies when she spotted a weed in the midst of her flowers. She had left her gloves in the house. Unfortunately when she went to remove the offensive weed, the tiny thorny base gashed her hand. She immediately went into the house and washed the wound and added some topical antibiotic just in case. However, within a day she noticed a puffy red swelling around the gash. By the second day she became concerned when she awoke to find that when she tried to get up out of bed she found walking difficult. She immediately called her son who came to take her to the ER of the local hospital immediately. By the time she reached the hospital she 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 she had not received a Tetanus booster in more than ten years. Troubled by this information, he immediately intubated his patient and administered counter measures.
A. What is the immunization the patient should have received?
B. What is the recommended period for booster shots?
C. The causative agent for this disease is ________.
D. What are the identifying characteristics of this organism?
E. How can this organism be detected?
F. What is the life cycle of this organism?
G. How did the organisms enter the hand of the gardener?
H. What causes the paralysis?
I. What other organisms belong to this Genus that are medically significant?
J. At this point in the infection, what countermeasures should the physician administer?