Bloody rusty scratch and no tetnus shot.

[teacups]

Ok. I am doing it. I'm asking a medical question on the dis!!
My hubby who has not had a tetnus shot in the last 10 years got scratched on rusty barb wire about 4 hours ago. JUST TOLD ME! Grrr.... not deep but a good 5 inches long, but deffo bloody. Question: does he need tetnus shot tonight at ER or tomorrow morn at regular docs office?

Thanks!

 

[crashbb]

NOT TO BE TAKEN INSTEAD OF PROPER MEDICAL ADIVCE

BUT...

Bloody and not deep is good. The riskiest types of wounds (in terms of tetanus) are those deep wounds that kind of close up on themselves (like if you step on a nail and it goes straight in). The bacteria are less likely to remain in a shallow bloody wound (basically the blood cleans out the bacteria).

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Do you have an after-hours medical advice service you can call? If so, I would call tonight and ask.

 

[Disneylover79]

I agree with Bunnies... call the on call doctor for your family doc and ask them, and please do not think you are inconveniencing them, that is what they went to school and get paid for...

 

[bumbershoot]

Tetanus is an ANaerobic organism. It cannot live in the presence of oxygen. If it bled, there was oxygen introduced to the wound.

I personally would not worry one little bit about it. And I grew up on, basically, a farm (deadend street carved out of a farm), walked barefoot allllll the time.

 

[JessicaR]

If it were me I would wait till morning.

See your doctor to obtain a tetanus booster shot if you have a deep or dirty wound and you haven't had a booster shot within the past five years or aren't sure of your vaccination status. Or see your doctor about a tetanus booster for any wound if you haven't had a booster shot within the past 10 years.

Tetanus bacilli live in the soil, so the most dangerous
kind of injury involves possible contamination with
dirt, animal feces, and manure. Although we have
traditionally worried about deep puncture wounds,
in reality many types of injuries can allow tetanus
bacilli to enter the body.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tetanus.html

 

[Tinks]

You may not even need a Doctor's appointment, just an appointment for the shot with a nurse.

And I would clean it up tonight and call tomorrow for the shot.

Hope that helps.

 

[shortbun]

My husband got tetanus 25 years ago and lived. He had a puncture wound from an old corn stalk and got a shot immediately - went straight to the emergency room where they cleaned it out. He ended up with gas gangrene and tetanus. He knew by that night that he was in trouble. It was touch and go. Everyone should keep current on their tetanus shots.

 

[Christine]

I think it is a misnomer that tetanus comes from rust. We've all heard the story of "oh I stepped on a rusty nail."

Tetanus is in the ground in the soil. Hence, ANY nail that is on the ground could have the bacteria on it. Plus, if you are walking around on the ground barefoot, your stepping in tetanus bacteria.

The second issue with getting tetanus is the type of wound. As another poster said, you need to be concerned with deep, puncture wounds (stepping on a nail) that create a hole and the top layer closes up over it, locking in the bacteria.

A regular wound should not have that happen.

In any case, most doctors will give a shot for any type of serious wound that requires medical care.

FWIW, I am 45 and have not had a tetanus shot since I was about 12. I've been to the doctor millions of times and it has never been offered to me.

 

[phorsenuf]

Tetanus is an ANaerobic organism. It cannot live in the presence of oxygen. If it bled, there was oxygen introduced to the wound.

I personally would not worry one little bit about it. And I grew up on, basically, a farm (deadend street carved out of a farm), walked barefoot allllll the time.

Credible source please.

 

[Christine]

Credible source please.

I know you didn't ask me but I did read this from a healthsource webpage:

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a bacterial infection caused by the germ Clostridium tetani. The disease was first described by the Greek physician Hippocrates in the fifth century BC, and is very well understood today.

Tetanus germs have a reputation for hanging out on rusty nails, but the spores (dormant forms of the bacteria) can be found almost anywhere -- and they are extremely hardy. Tetanus is more common when it's warm and humid, but can be found in all climates. The spores are common in soils around the world, especially in areas with lots of people or animals, including farms, jungles, and your own backyard. The germ is found in the intestines of people as well as cats, dogs, and other domestic animals, and you can get it from an animal bite. And yes, you can catch tetanus from nails and splinters, too.

Once a spore finds a good environment (your finger, say, after you've just poked yourself while gardening) it becomes active and the bacteria start to multiply. The tetanus bacterium is anaerobic, meaning it can't grow in air. That's why it's mainly a problem in cases of puncture wounds like splinters and deep bites, where the germ is pushed deep inside and air can't reach it.[/

Now, that's not to say that you CAN'T get tetanus in any other wound but there is less of a chance.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Credible source please.

I may only be credible based on that "A" in microbiology (which I am pretty sure also applies to Bumbershoot) but I agree totally.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd go tonight.

 

[phorsenuf]

I know you didn't ask me but I did read this from a healthsource webpage:

Now, that's not to say that you CAN'T get tetanus in any other wound but there is less of a chance.

But you shouldn't base it on the fact that if it bleeds you're safe. Puncture wounds bleed.

 

[Christine]

But you shouldn't base it on the fact that if it bleeds you're safe. Puncture wounds bleed.

Oh, I don't assume anything is safe. Just spouting off information.

I think the bottom line is that puncture wounds, while they do bleed, also close over on the top and seal in the bacteria and the wound underneath the covered up area is still full of the bacteria inside, which then gets the perfect environment. At some point, the bacteria get closed in deep and that's where the problem lies. A superficial wound doesn't seal things in that manner for the most part.

Personally, I think the risk is there with all serious cuts, puncture or not, but the risk is much worse in a puncture wound.

 

[teacups]

Thanks everyone! He went last night and the doc said he deffo needed a shot for it. BUT I think they'd say that simply based on the fact that he hadnt had one in a while.

 

[Deb in IA]

Did he also get metronidazole and immune globulin?

 

[disneyeveryyear]

My husband got tetanus 25 years ago and lived. He had a puncture wound from an old corn stalk and got a shot immediately - went straight to the emergency room where they cleaned it out. He ended up with gas gangrene and tetanus. He knew by that night that he was in trouble. It was touch and go. Everyone should keep current on their tetanus shots.

My dad had a "puncture" wound from a hand drill (straight into the side of his hand), which he treated himself, and ended up with gas gangrene also. I think your DH is the only other case I have heard of.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Thanks everyone! He went last night and the doc said he deffo needed a shot for it. BUT I think they'd say that simply based on the fact that he hadnt had one in a while.

You're probably better off with one than without. No more than 4 years ago I had a tick in a spot I couldn't reach to remove it. Went to the urgent care center. Not only did they give me an antibiotic, but they also gave me a tetanus shot. I never would have guessed for a tick bite. Yes, being ticks are in the dirt, I guess it makes sense after reading a few posts on here. Glad it's done!

 

[minkydog]

My husband got tetanus 25 years ago and lived. He had a puncture wound from an old corn stalk and got a shot immediately - went straight to the emergency room where they cleaned it out. He ended up with gas gangrene and tetanus. He knew by that night that he was in trouble. It was touch and go. Everyone should keep current on their tetanus shots.

Wow! That must be a story to tell. One of the sickest patients I've ever had was a middle aged man who contracted tetanus working on his farm. That was 32 years ago and I still remember him cryingin agony as his muscles spasmed from the lightest touch. It made a strong impression on me as a new nurse.

Just because tetanus is uncommon here in the U.S. don't think it can't happen. Tetanus is a sufficiently horrible disease that it behooves every one of us to get to the doctor for our immunization every 5-10 years.