Anyone can contract tetanus by stepping on nails or other sharp objects which allows them to be exposed to the bacteria that causes tetanus. This bacterium can only enter our body from our surrounding environment through broken skin. Usually, broken skin occurs through an injury from a contaminated object. Tetanus bacterium is more likely to infect certain breaks within the skin, some of which include: - Wounds that have been tainted with dirt, feces, or saliva - Wounds caused due to a puncture to the skin with a nail or needle - Burns - Crush injuries - Injuries with the skin (dead tissue) - Surgery - Insect bites - Dental infections - Exposed broken bone - Chronic sores and infections - IV drug use - Injections into the muscle