Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management) — free guideline decision tool
This tool judges the need for tetanus vaccine and immune globulin (TIG) by wound type and immunization history.
Open guideline tool →Guideline-based
Implements the decision logic from published clinical guidelines.
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No installation. Enter the patient's values and get a guideline recommendation instantly.
Data stays local
Nothing is uploaded. Results are for licensed clinicians only.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Wound type | Clean minor wound |
|---|---|
| Tetanus immunization history | Unknown or < 3 doses |
| HIV or severe immunodeficiency | No |
→DispositionGive vaccine
- Vaccine：Give a tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine (Td/Tdap, 0.5 mL IM; prefer Tdap if never given Tdap, Tdap in pregnancy)
- TIG：No TIG needed (a clean minor wound never needs TIG)
- Wound care：Thorough debridement, irrigation, removal of devitalized tissue and foreign bodies; TIG only neutralizes free toxin, not toxin already bound to nerve endings, so give early when indicated
| Wound type | Contaminated or larger wound (puncture/soil-feces contamination/devitalized tissue/burn/crush/bite) |
|---|---|
| Tetanus immunization history | ≥ 3 doses and > 10 yr since last |
| HIV or severe immunodeficiency | Yes |
→DispositionGive vaccine + TIG
- Vaccine：Give a tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine (Td/Tdap, 0.5 mL IM; prefer Tdap if never given Tdap, Tdap in pregnancy)
- TIG：Give tetanus immune globulin TIG 250 IU IM (different syringe and site from the vaccine)
- Wound care：Thorough debridement, irrigation, removal of devitalized tissue and foreign bodies; TIG only neutralizes free toxin, not toxin already bound to nerve endings, so give early when indicated
Common questions
What is Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management)?
This tool judges the need for tetanus vaccine and immune globulin (TIG) by wound type and immunization history.
How is Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management) calculated? What is the core formula?
Clean minor wound → vaccine only if history unknown/incomplete or > 10 yr; never TIG. Contaminated/larger wound → vaccine + TIG if history unknown/incomplete, vaccine booster if > 5 yr. HIV/severe immunodeficiency + dirty wound → TIG regardless.
When is Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management) used?
Use during wound care to decide vaccine and TIG, accounting for contaminated wounds and immunocompromise.
What are the key clinical points for Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management)?
A clean minor wound never warrants TIG, whereas a contaminated wound in an under-immunized or immunocompromised patient does. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim) TIG neutralizes only free toxin, so thorough wound debridement remains essential. Antibiotics do not substitute for immunoprophylaxis, and the primary series should be completed.
What are the limits and cautions when using Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management)?
For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
How is Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
Inputs: Wound type Clean minor wound, Tetanus immunization history Unknown or < 3 doses, HIV or severe immunodeficiency No → Result: Disposition Give vaccine（Vaccine: Give a tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine (Td/Tdap, 0.5 mL IM; prefer Tdap if never given Tdap, Tdap in pregnancy), TIG: No TIG needed (a clean minor wound never needs TIG), Wound care: Thorough debridement, irrigation, removal of devitalized tissue and foreign bodies; TIG only neutralizes free toxin, not toxin already bound to nerve endings, so give early when indicated） Inputs: Wound type Contaminated or larger wound (puncture/soil-feces contamination/devitalized tissue/burn/crush/bite), Tetanus immunization history ≥ 3 doses and > 10 yr since last, HIV or severe immunodeficiency Yes → Result: Disposition Give vaccine + TIG（Vaccine: Give a tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine (Td/Tdap, 0.5 mL IM; prefer Tdap if never given Tdap, Tdap in pregnancy), TIG: Give tetanus immune globulin TIG 250 IU IM (different syringe and site from the vaccine), Wound care: Thorough debridement, irrigation, removal of devitalized tissue and foreign bodies; TIG only neutralizes free toxin, not toxin already bound to nerve endings, so give early when indicated）
Run Tetanus Prophylaxis (Wound Management) now
This tool judges the need for tetanus vaccine and immune globulin (TIG) by wound type and immunization history.
Open guideline tool →For licensed clinicians. Not a substitute for clinical judgement.
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