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HyperTET® S/D [Tetanus Immune Globulin (Human)]
postexposure prophylaxis for tetanus

HyperTET® S/D Postexposure Treatment for Tetanus

Q&A

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a toxin that is produced by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. These bacteria cannot grow if exposed to oxygen, which is why very deep wounds can be prone to infection. The spores produced by the bacteria are extremely hard to kill because they are resistant to both heat and many other chemical agents that are used to eliminate bacteria.1

How is it contracted?

The spores responsible for tetanus can be found in soil and in intestines and feces of many household and farm animals and humans. The bacteria can enter the body through a puncture wound, which if deep enough (the deeper the wound the less oxygen exposure) will cause the spores to multiply and grow. Tetanus cannot be spread from person to person.1

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of tetanus can be seen in your central nervous system. Regarding the most common form of tetanus, the symptoms that are often seen are spasms in the jaw muscle, followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, and stiffness of the abdominal muscles. Other potential symptoms include fever, sweating, elevated blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. Spasms often occur, which may last for several minutes and continue for 3 to 4 weeks. Complete recovery, if it occurs, may take months.1

How can I prevent tetanus?

Tetanus has a high fatality rate and there is no cure once symptoms begin to develop. The best treatment for tetanus is prevention. You should make sure that you are up to date with primary vaccinations and should you have a wound that could possibly be contaminated by tetanus, or you're unsure of your immunization status, you will need both a dose of tetanus immune globulin—such as HyperTET S/D—as soon as possible, and a tetanus-and-diphtheria-containing shot (Td or Tdap).1

What is a tetanus immune globulin and why isn't a vaccine enough?

A tetanus immune globulin is a treatment that contains high levels of tetanus antibodies. An immune globulin works much faster than a vaccine, but does not last as long. Because of the potentially life-threatening nature of tetanus, doctors will give you a tetanus immune globulin shot like HyperTET S/D and a vaccine to make sure you get the comprehensive care you need.2,3

Quick Facts

  • During 1998-2000, the case-fatality rate for reported tetanus in the United States was 18%1
  • Almost all reported cases of tetanus are in persons who have either never been vaccinated or who completed a primary series but have not had a booster in the preceding 10 years1
  • During 1990-2001, a total of 534 cases of tetanus were reported. Most (56%) of these cases occurred among adults age 19-64 years and 38% were among persons age 65 years or older1
  • It is possible to get tetanus more than once. People recovering from tetanus should begin or complete the vaccination series1

HyperTET S/D IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

HyperTET S/D should be given with caution to patients with a history of prior systemic allergic reactions following the administration of human immunoglobulin preparations. In patients who have severe thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injections, HyperTET S/D should be given only if the expected benefits outweigh the risks.

Slight soreness at the site of injection and slight temperature elevation may be noted at times. Sensitization to repeated injections of human immunoglobulin is extremely rare. In the course of routine injections of large numbers of persons with immunoglobulin, there have been a few isolated occurrences of angioneurotic edema, nephrotic syndrome, and anaphylactic shock after injection.

Administration of live virus vaccines (eg, MMR) should be deferred for approximately 3 months after Tetanus Immune Globulin (Human) administration.

HyperTET S/D is made from human plasma. As with all plasma-derived therapeutics, the potential to transmit infectious agents, such as viruses and theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD) agent that can cause disease, cannot be totally eliminated. There is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in such products.

For full Prescribing Information, click here.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References:

  1. Immunization Action Coalition. Tetanus: questions and answers. http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/P4220.pdf. Accessed June 16, 2009.

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Principles of vaccination. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/prinvac-508.pdf. Accessed June 15, 2009.

  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tetanus. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/tetanus-508.pdf. Accessed June 18, 2009.