After scraping my leg across something rusty and drawing blood, how long can I wait to get a tetanus shot?

As soon as possible.

“The booster may not prevent a potentially fatal case of tetanus from the current wound, however, as it can take up to two weeks for tetanus antibodies to form. The wound must be cleaned. Dead and infected tissue should be removed by surgical debridement. Administration of the antibiotic metronidazole decreases the number of bacteria but has no effect on the bacterial toxin. Passive immunization with human anti-tetanospasmin immunoglobulin or tetanus immunoglobulin is crucial. If specific anti-tetanospasmin immunoglobulin is not available, then normal human immunoglobulin may be given instead. All tetanus victims should be vaccinated against the disease or offered a booster shot.” Wikipedia

Scrub the wound clean. Tomorrow should be fine for the tetanus.

Did that, will do that. Thanks.

Tomorrow should be fine. When did you last have a tetanus shot?

How long does a tentanus vaccine last? Would you ask when you go tomorrow, @Dutchess_III? I believe it is for ten years, but I’m not certain. I can’t remember the last time I had a tetanus shot.

Hail, I don’t remember @WestRiverrat! I’m betting I got one a couple of years ago as part of my standard check over that I had to get to go into teaching again, but I don’t know for sure. I’ll ask them if they have a record of it.
Can you get too many within a certain period? (LOL!! I just finished writing that and your answer popped up @bkcunningham! I’ll check :)
I’m going to be hauling a lot of ancient, rusted metal off of our land in the next few weeks, so I probably need one regardless.

@WestRiverrat Ten years.

The last time I remember getting one was about 25 years ago!

I would go get a shot immediately. Go to the emergency room ASAP. Tetanus is nothing to take a chance with, as I recall. The fact that it bled copiously is good, but don’t take a chance. What do they say? Err on the side of caution.

I always thought ten years until I accidentally cut my arm and needed stitches. It had been seven years and I had to get another one. When I asked why, the doctor told me that the timeframe was now seven years. This makes me wonder if she was covering herself in case I had the date wrong.

@tedibear The standard from the CDC is 10 years between tetanus immunizations, but the medical standard of care is to give a booster to anyone with a puncture wound (particularly if the person has had fewer than three doses in their lifetime or is unsure about the date of the last shot).

So, it’s cool if I get another when even though I probably had one within the last 3 years?

If you have a puncture wound (a little different than a cut), you would get a booster. As for a cut, the rusty object is the issue. I would ask my primary care doctor if he would want me to get a booster based on the scenario and how deep the cut is.

It’s not deep. It was a scrape and it was bleeding. I’ll find it all out tomorrow…unless I forget. :)

The thing about puncture wounds is that they are very difficult to clean and they typically PUSH the tetanus pathogen (if present) deep under the skin. Scrapes can usually be cleaned out pretty well at home with gentle soap and LOTS of running water. Describe it to your doc and he/she will be able to check your records as to your last shot and make a recommendation.

Well, a tet shot wouldn’t hurt, at any rate.

I would get another tet shot, but if you had one within 3 years it shouldn’t hurt to wait until tomorrow.

I have an appointment for 11 tomorrow. I had too much stuff to do today.