Tetanus Prevention - Clean Wounds

Treatment required:

• An immediate dose of vaccine (check for contraindications) followed, if records confirm this is needed, by completion of a full 3 dose course of combined tetanus/diphtheria/inactivated polio vaccine to ensure future immunity.

• No immunoglobulin required.

Circumstances where a patient should have more than 5 doses:

• Following a tetanus prone wound if the tetanus status is unknown.
• For travellers to areas where medical attention may not be accessible should a tetanus prone injury occur, and the last dose was more than 10 years previously. This is a precautionary measure in case the immunoglobulin is not available to the individual should a tetanus prone injury occur.

The Full Information Sheet "Tetanus Prevention" is available here.  

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Page last edited: 20/04/2007

Caution; the antibiotic doses recommended on this website are intended for adult patients with normal renal and liver function unless otherwise stated. Dosing advice for patients with renal impairment is available here.

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