A home-delivered neonate born to an unimmunized mother refuses feeds from day 4 of life, develops inability to open the mouth, rigidity, and spasms triggered by touch. What is the single most effective measure that would have prevented this condition?

• A Administration of penicillin prophylaxis to the newborn
• B Exclusive breastfeeding from the first hour of life
• C Routine antibiotic ointment applied to the umbilical stump
• D Immunization of the mother with tetanus toxoid during pregnancy along with clean delivery practices ✓

Explanation

Neonatal tetanus follows contamination of the umbilical stump, usually after cord cutting or dressing with unsterile material in a child whose mother lacks circulating antitoxin. Because maternal IgG crosses the placenta, two doses of tetanus toxoid to the mother before delivery combined with clean delivery and cord care prevent virtually all cases. Antibiotics neither prevent spore germination reliably nor replace antitoxin immunity, and breastfeeding has no protective role against Clostridium tetani.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.