Post-exposure prophylaxis for tetanus
Tetanus or tetanus is caused by a bacterium that occurs sporadically in the environment. Many people are already vaccinated at the age of a colon and have sufficient immunity in adulthood through regular booster vaccinations. Should an injury occur, it is important to check the vaccination status of the person concerned for tetanus.
If the vaccination status is insufficient or outdated, the affected persons will be re-vaccinated. The exact vaccination schedule depends on the vaccination status and also on the appearance of the wound – i.e. whether it is “clean” or contaminated by dirt or soil. The exact vaccination procedure is then decided by the doctor treating the patient.
- What is tetanus anyway?
- When is a tetanus vaccination indicated?
Post-exposure prophylaxis for measles
Measles is less common in the population today due to the high vaccination rate. However, people who have no or insufficient vaccination status against measles are advised to take post-exposure prophylaxis in case of contact with measles-infected persons. This usually consists of one or more vaccinations.But how do you know that you have also been infected with measles? In this regard, our article might be helpful: Symptoms of measles
How quickly must post-exposure prophylaxis be administered?
For the different diseases there are different periods of time at which post-exposure prophylaxis must be taken at the latest. In the case of the HI virus, it is particularly important that the administration of virus-fighting medication takes place immediately after exposure. The best chances of successfully escaping the virus are within a period of two hours after infection with the pathogen.
As a rule, exposure prophylaxis should take place within a time window of 24 hours. Drug therapy can also be started after this time, but is then considered less effective. In the case of hepatitis B, post-exposure prophylaxis should be administered within 24 hours in unvaccinated persons, in persons with an unknown vaccination status and in persons with a low antibody status, in the best case, also within 24 hours to reduce the risk of transmission.
In case of suspected occurrence of tetanus causing bacteria, immediate therapy initiation is also necessary, especially in unvaccinated persons. As a rule, this is done when the injury is presented to the doctor, i.e. usually within a few hours of the accident. In the case of meningococcal infection, therapy is often initiated as soon as suspicion arises, as this is a potentially life-threatening disease.
In people who have been in contact with the infected person, post-exposure prophylaxis can be given up to 10 days after contact with the infected person. Rabies prophylaxis should be taken as soon as possible, especially in case of a bite. The prophylaxis is especially important in the case of rabies, since it cannot be treated after the outbreak of the disease and thus practically always leads to the death of the affected person. If unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated persons are exposed to the measles virus, post-exposure prophlyxis in the form of vaccinations should be carried out within 3 to at the latest 5 days after contact with infected persons. You can get an overview of the vaccinations at Vaccination – A blessing or a curse?
