No: The Clostridium tetani bacterium will not enter the body thru the gastrointestinal tract. Nor will it grow in healthy tissue. It most often is the result of a deep penetrating injury such as stepping on a nail that's been outdoors and exposed to C. tetani spores that that are ubiquitous in soil. Approximately 300,000 to 500,000 people die from tetanus yearly, mainly in undeveloped countries.
Answered 11/27/2015
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