How many times do you need to get a tetanus shot?

Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
Updated on February 19, 2025
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If tetanus vaccination is required due to an injury, one injection is sufficient. There are two types of tetanus shots. One is called tetanus antitoxin, which is extracted from horse serum. For this, a skin test is needed to check for allergies. If allergic, tetanus antitoxin cannot be used; if not, it can be used. The other type is refined tetanus antitoxin, also known as tetanus immune globulin, extracted from human serum. This type does not require a skin test and can be used directly, but it is more expensive than tetanus antitoxin. If tetanus treatment is needed for each injury, one injection is sufficient.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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What will happen with tetanus?

In clinical settings, tetanus is a type of surgical-specific infectious disease caused by the infiltration of Clostridium tetani through human skin, mucous membranes, or wounds. Tetanus toxin is a true anaerobic bacterium that thrives in oxygen-deprived environments and is highly resistant to environmental conditions. Clostridium tetani mainly produces tetanus toxin and tetanolysin, which can cause whole-body muscle spasms, including facial muscle spasms and difficulty opening the mouth. It can also lead to persistent spasms of the respiratory muscles and diaphragm, causing respiratory arrest and, in severe cases, can result in patient death.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus an anaerobic bacterium?

Tetanus is a specific infection often associated with trauma. In addition to various traumas, it can also occur in parturient women and newborns under unsanitary conditions. The pathogen is Clostridium tetani, an obligate anaerobe that stains positive under Gram staining conditions. Normally present in the intestines of humans and animals, it is distributed in nature and common in soil. This type of bacteria has strong resistance to environmental conditions and can withstand boiling.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How to administer a tetanus shot if it is negative?

A negative tetanus needle test indicates that the patient is not allergic to the tetanus antitoxin and can continue with intramuscular injections, typically administered in the upper arm or buttock muscles, in doses ranging from 1000 to 3000 units each time. If the infection is severe or the tetanus injection is not timely, the dosage may be appropriately increased, generally by one to two times. The purpose of administering tetanus antitoxin treatment is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium. For patients with deep wounds or heavily contaminated wounds, such as those contaminated with soil or rust, Clostridium tetani can easily colonize. Therefore, for such patients, it is essential to perform tetanus antitoxin treatment while cleaning and dressing the wound.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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How is tetanus diagnosed?

For the diagnosis of tetanus, it mainly relies on relevant medical history and clinical manifestations. In terms of laboratory diagnosis, most cases involve culture of Clostridium tetani from wound tissue or polymerase chain reaction testing. Generally, a positive result can confirm a diagnosis of tetanus, but a negative result does not rule it out. Most laboratories are unable to perform these tests, and even if tetanus antibodies reach a protective level, it does not exclude a diagnosis of tetanus. If the patient has a clear history of injury or animal bites, and presents with symptoms such as lockjaw, a sardonic smile, muscle rigidity, difficulty swallowing, or persistent spasms, tetanus should be considered promptly and relevant treatment initiated.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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Does a tetanus shot stimulate the brain?

Tetanus shot, if administering tetanus toxoid, a skin test is required before injection. If the skin test is negative and there is no allergy, then the injection can proceed without stimulating the brain. A small proportion of patients undergoing anti-tetanus treatment might experience some uncomfortable reactions, commonly allergies, fever, and symptoms of vomiting. Generally, these can be alleviated with rest or symptomatic treatment. Only less than 1% of patients may experience seizures or coma, which are very rare reactions. If such reactions occur, it is urgent to go to a formal hospital for symptomatic and supportive treatment. For the vast majority of tetanus shots, if administered in a formal hospital and the patient has a negative skin test, or if given tetanus immunoglobulin, it does not stimulate the brain.