Question regarding Tetanus toxoid

jayz1989 · Sep 4, 2012

Every 10Yrs

jayz1989 · Sep 4, 2012

But I think depends on the situation. If the patient doesn't remember when was the last time they had tetorifice shot. The patient will get a titter and of the titter is negative. A shot is given. That's what I thought.

Sapple · Sep 5, 2012

yea that sounds about rite....2 sources say if it's been more than yrs and if there is a posibility the pt wound was contaminated by a dirty object the nurse can administer....something so... thanks

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 5, 2012

I have given tetorifice many times and never gotten a titre. if the patient can not remember and it was a dirty wound better to give than not give

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2012

I don't have an official answer, but will tell you how we do it in my ED. We recommend every 10 years if you are a person who never gets their hands dirty, never work in the garden, never walk in the woods, etc. If you are every exposed to "dirt", it's every 5 years. I have never seen anyone draw a titer to see if it is time for another one.

Generally speaking, if you can't remember when you had your last one, and you have a contaminated wound, then get one.

In the past year or so, we have been giving the Tdap, tetorifice, diphtheria and pertussis. Some information says give Tdap up to age 65, then just the DT (diphtheria, tetorifice), but some says give if over 65. Pertussis is on the upswing and we recently were told about an infant death from pertussis in a nearby county.

We very rarely just give tetorifice toxoid, and it is if someone has an allergy to the diphtheria component.