ATS & TT administration

[jlsr]

What is the rationale as to why anti tetorifice serum (ats) is no longer given if it is past 12noon? moreover, why is it that ats is to be given first before giving tetorifice toxoid (tt)?

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Unusual questions. Have you asked your facility why they do it that way? I'd like to know the rationale.

[NPinWCH]

I have no idea why you can't give it after noon. That sounds like an institutional policy as the previous poster said. I don't know what your policy is for anti-serum and toxoid use since some give the injections at the same time, in different sites and others space out the injections by a day. Most places I know of give them at the same time.

The anti-serum works to provide immediate passive immunity while the toxoid nudges the body's immune system to produce its own antibodies and provides active immunity. So, while the anti-serum provides immediate antibodies that start to neutralize the tetorifice toxin, the toxiod stimulates the body to produce its own immunity.

The immunity from the anti-serum peaks in about 2 days, so it very quickly fights the tetorifice, and it lasts for 25 days or so. During this time, if the patient was given the toxiod, their own immune system has kicked in and created antibodies that continue to fight the tetorifice if needed.

There is no reason that I know of why one has to be given immediately before the other. The anti-serum is only given if there is active tetorifice infection or there is significant risk for tetorifice AND the patient has received fewer than 3 toxiod boosters.