Tetanus toxoid and immunoglobulin
Clean minor wound: toxoid if not fully immunised. Tetanus-prone wound: toxoid plus immunoglobulin (250 IU IM) if immunisation incomplete or unknown.
On this page
After a wound
| Immunisation status | Clean wound | Tetanus-prone wound |
|---|---|---|
| Complete (5 doses or booster within 10 years) | Nothing | Nothing (consider TIG if high-risk wound) |
| Incomplete or unknown | Toxoid, complete the course | Toxoid plus tetanus immunoglobulin |
Doses
- Tetanus toxoid (TT or Td): 0.5 mL IM.
- Tetanus immunoglobulin: 250 IU IM (500 IU if over 24 hours old or heavy contamination).
- Clinical tetanus: specialist; higher-dose TIG, metronidazole, muscle relaxants, ICU.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a tetanus-prone wound?
Deep puncture wounds, wounds with soil or manure, devitalised tissue, burns, compound fractures and wounds over 6 hours old.
Used in these guides
Sources
Doses on this page are typical doses from the sources above. Always confirm with a current drug reference, the product leaflet and your hospital protocol, especially in children, pregnancy and kidney or liver disease.