Barbed wire injury. Puncture wound on the finger caused by a prick from rusted barbed wire. Tetanus may result from a wound such as this, due to infection by spores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The spores live mainly in soil and manure, but are also found on dirty or rusting metal objects. If untreated, tetanus (lockjaw) may be fatal. Prevention of tetanus is by vaccination, and by booster immunization. If tetanus symptoms occur, antitoxin injections are necessary.