Australian doctors have reported the first death from tetanus in NSW in over three decades, while stressing the importance of older patients staying up to date with vaccinations.

The case series involved two adults in their 80s who were unvaccinated against Clostridium tetani, treated by doctors at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Liverpool Hospital.

One of the patients, an 85-year-old woman, presented with three days of dysphagia, lower abdominal discomfort, trismus and headache.

After treatment with IV ceftriaxone for suspected pharyngitis she developed progressive rigidity, a reduced level of consciousness and new rapid AF.