Does this require a tetanus jab?

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Posting for traffic sorry.

Last night around 9pm I stood on a rusty nail which went through my shoe and pierced my foot. It bled a little but wasn't very deep. It's a bit sore today but not terribly.

Pharmacist said I should ring 111 as I'd probably need a tetanus jab. 111 said a clinician would ring me back to discuss home management but I was asleep when they did, 3:30am.

I'm 250 miles from home and travelling back today and unsure whether it needs further investigation. I don't want to waste A&E's time and my doctor doesn't do same day appointments.

I've cleaned the puncture hole, bathed it in salt water and used antiseptic cream.

Couldn't tell you whether I'm up to date with tetanus vaccine..

Yes you do. I have done exactly that in the past and had to have the jab.

This is where It punctured the skin, only a small incision.

I wouldn't usually bat an eyelid but the pharmacist was insistent I'd need the injection.

@dontlikebeards

Yes you do. I have done exactly that in the past and had to have the jab.

Do you know the time window in which I can have the injection? It's going to be very difficult today as I'm travelling across the UK

Yeah you do I’m afraid. Tetanus loves puncture wounds and dirt!

Puncture wound with a dirty object, then yes I'd want one.

It's been over 25 years since my last, and I'm not sure how many I've had (think I'd had all offered, but don't know if that's enough on current guidelines). So I think they'd probably stab me in those circs

Where was the nail - if outdoors and potentially has earth on it, then I'd definitely get it done, ditto if stables or near other animal yards

You have 3 days

How many times have you had the tetanus jab previously op? And when was the last time if you have had it?

If you dont know if you are up to date with tetanus. Best to go and get a shot. It would be more time wasting if you developed the tetanus infection and needed to be admitted to icu to treat that than going in for a simple vaccination.

I haven't a clue when I last had a tetanus jab, it definitely wasn't in adulthood.

It's highly probable I'm not up to date.

I've just called A&E where I live and they said to go there or to my doctors. Doctors don't do same day appointments so it looks like I'll be spending the afternoon in A&E after travelling all day. Brilliant

It depends when you last had one and how many you have had. I think that once you have had five you have lifetime coverage, but I’m not sure.

The only person I know who had tetanus from a puncture wound it came on impressively quickly with localised paralysis within an hour or 2 of the injury

Still a good idea to get it checked out though but I do reckon you'd know about it but now

You might be able to get a tetanus vaccination at a travel clinic, Superdrug have clinics, I think.

My DM wasn't particularly stringent about vaccinations when I was a child so I'm going to hazard a guess and say I'm not sufficiently protected.

On hold atm to my doctors hoping they'll be able to see me but knowing their system as I do it's unlikely.

The only person I know who had tetanus from a puncture wound it came on impressively quickly with localised paralysis within an hour or 2 of the injury

And that seems very unusual

Ignore my shitty advice please

Tetanus booster should be every 10 years.

My understanding is that with any puncture wound or other open wound you are best to have a tetanus Jan.

My last was given when I arrived in A & E with an open fracture of my right arm back in 2016. Before that I have no idea when I had last had one..

I've managed to get an appointment with a nurse at my GP surgery for 5pm today. Very relieved as I thought I'd be stuck in A&E for hours after spending the day travelling.

It was a very unclean environment so it's better to be safe than sorry.

It was sticking out of a dirty piece of wood in a field so germs galore I would think.

I stood on rusty screw in some wood in garden a month ago but I was bare footed - it hurt!
I went to urgent care which was very quiet and had a tetanus and a weeks antibiotics.

If you are not up to date on your tetanus jabs, i.e you have not had one in the last ten years, then a jab would not work anyway it takes 21 days to mount anti bodies and active tetanus would show before that. If you have not had the recommended dose, 3 primary and two boosters then you would need immunoglobulin to immediately attack any infection. Tetanus vaccines are prophylactic. It also depends on the nature of the would, that wound is not heavily contaminated, and yes they may just give you a booster to catch you up, but it would not be to stop tetanus. Any heavily contaminated wound would need immunoglobulin.

My advice would be to soak it immediately in salt water, at least 3 times a day, watch for signs of infection and get anti bionics. Like I said a tetanus jabs would not stop it at this point, you need anti bionics or immunoglobulin depending on your vaccine status.

I've just looked up the symptoms of tetanus which include muscle spasms and lock jaw. I have these things 24-7 as I have TMD so I wouldn't necessarily recognise the early onset as I'm used to dealing with these things daily.

I've cleaned it again just now and used Germaline, covered it up, will see what the nurse says later on.

My vaccine into will be on my medical file I'm guessing they'll be able to see when I last had one?

I was in hospital with sepsis last year could it be possible they gave me one then?

No, they wouldn't have done.

You definitely need it.

Thanks all looks like I'll have the jab this evening.

I'm glad I posted as I was half considering just managing the area myself with washing and creams.

Your GP may not be doing same day appointments but no reason why he/she cannot discuss this by phone.
The receptionist with her vast medical qualifications should be able to offer you this.