Stepping on a nail. Abstract image of a foot about to tread on a rusty nail to cause an injury such as a puncture wound. Tetanus (lockjaw) or septi- caemia may result from a wound such as this. Tetanus is due to infection by spores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The spores may be found on dirty or rusting metal objects. If the patient is not vaccinated against tetanus, the condition may be fatal. In the case of septicaemia in which bacterial infection causes blood poison- ing, antibiotic drugs may be prescribed.