Sub menu

Table. Guide to tetanus prophylaxis in wound management

History of tetanus vaccination	Time since last dose	Type of wound	DTPa, DTPa combinations, dT, dTpa, as appropriate	Tetanus immunoglobulin
≥3 doses	<5 years	Clean, minor wounds	No	No
≥3 doses	<5 years	All other wounds	No	No (unless person has immunodeficiency)^a
≥3 doses	5–10 years	Clean, minor wounds	No	No
≥3 doses	5–10 years	All other wounds	Yes	No (unless person has immunodeficiency)^a
≥3 doses	>10 years	Clean, minor wounds	Yes	No
≥3 doses	>10 years	All other wounds	Yes	No (unless person has immunodeficiency)^a
<3 doses or uncertain^b	Uncertain	Clean, minor wounds	Yes	No
<3 doses or uncertain^b	Uncertain	All other wounds	Yes	Yes
Give tetanus immunoglobulin to people with a humoral immune deficiency and people with HIV (regardless of CD4⁺ count) if they have a tetanus-prone injury. This is regardless of the time since their last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. People who have no documented history of a complete primary vaccination course (3 doses) with a tetanus-containing vaccine should receive all missing doses and must receive tetanus immunoglobulin for tetanus-prone wounds. See Catch-up vaccination. Source: Cox et al,⁶ Fraser,⁷ Lucas and Willis,⁸ McComb,⁹ Smith et al,¹⁰ Trinca¹¹

Page history

Last updated

5 June 2018

Last reviewed

5 June 2018

Printed content may be out of date. For up to date information, always refer to the digital version:

https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/resources/tables/table-guide-to-tetanus-prophylaxis-in-wound-management

Link, share or bookmark directly to this section of the page.