Predicting survival in people with manifest tetanus using three severity scores.
Comparison of Three Scoring Systems for Prediction of Mortality in Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit With Manifest Tetanus
This project will test whether three scoring systems (Tetanus Severity Score, Dakar Score, and Philips Score) can help predict which adults with manifest tetanus will survive their hospital stay.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 115 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ain Shams University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Cairo, Cairo Governorate) |
| Trial ID | NCT07512167 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
In this observational cohort at Ain Shams University Hospitals and Demanhour Fever Hospital, adults admitted to the ICU with manifest tetanus will have three severity scores recorded on admission: the Tetanus Severity Score (TSS), Dakar Score, and Philips Score. Researchers will compare each score to the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality versus survival to hospital discharge. Patients younger than 18, those who do not meet WHO criteria for manifest tetanus, or cases with incomplete records for scores or outcomes will be excluded. The analysis will describe how well each score predicts mortality and may identify score thresholds linked to higher risk.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (age 18+) admitted to the ICU with manifest tetanus meeting WHO criteria are the ideal candidates for this project.
Not a fit: People under 18, those without manifest tetanus per WHO criteria, or patients with incomplete medical records or missing score data are excluded and unlikely to benefit from the results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these scoring systems could help clinicians identify high-risk tetanus patients early and guide treatment intensity and resource allocation.
How similar studies have performed: Similar scores such as the Dakar Score and earlier TSS evaluations have been used previously with mixed but generally promising results, though external validation in different centers remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * Adults (age 18 years old or more). * Any sex (male or female), regardless of gender identity. * Diagnosis of manifest tetanus according to the WHO criteria (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tetanus), that is the presence of one or both of the following criteria with or without the history of specific wound or injury: * Sustained spasm of the facial muscles in which person appears grinning. * Painful muscular contractions Exclusion criteria: * Age \< 18 years. * Absent criteria of manifest tetanus, as per the WHO criteria (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tetanus). * Incomplete medical record with missing data required to calculate the Tetanus Severity Score, Philips Score, or Dakar score. * Incomplete medical record with missing data regarding the primary outcome measure (survival to hospital discharge or in-hospital mortality).
Where this trial is running
Cairo, Cairo Governorate
- Ain Shams University Hospitals & Demanhour Fever Hospital — Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sameh M Hakim, MD
- Email: hakimsm@med.asu.edu.eg
- Phone: +202 26900073
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.