Question

A car accident victim, who is 12-year-old, suffered lacerations when she was thrown clear of the vehicle.She has just been brought into the hospital.Her parents stated that she has not had previous immunization against tetanus.To provide protection against the possibility of tetanus now and in the future, which of the following is the preferred method of treatment?
A. A mixture of tetanus toxoid and tetanus antitoxin as one injection, thereby causing less pain and producing an adjucant effect.
B. A tetanus antitoxin injection this visit.
C. A tetanus toxoid injection this visit, with an injection of tetanus antitoxin approximately three weeks later.
D. Separate injections of tetanus toxoid and tetanus antitoxin in different sites on this visit to ensure active and passive immunization.
E. None of the above.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. Separate injections of tetanus toxoid and tetanus antitoxin in different sites on this visit to ensure active and passive immunization.

Explanation:

Tetanus is a bacterial infection caused by Clostridium Tetany, this occurs as an object with the bacteria cuts the skin or causes a wound. Due to this, every time there are lacerations or cuts in an accident it is important to provide protection against Tetanus. This commonly occurs through the Tetanus vaccine also know as tetanus toxoid that is administered during childhood and works through passive immunization. However, if the patient has not been previously immunized he/she must receive tetanus toxoid and separately tetanus antitoxin that prevents tetanus through active immunization.

According to this, in the case presented the patient should have separate injections of tetanus toxoid and tetanus antitoxin (Option D) because this patient has not been previously immunized and therefore requires both tetanus toxoid and tetanus antitoxin, additionally, as each of these is different, they should be administered separately, but almost at the same time to prevent tetanus infection.