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A member asked:
What do you suggest if i had a very tiny prick on rusted metal, do i need a tetanus shot?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A cut is a cut: Tetanus is possible when a cut on the skin is contaminated by tetanus spores that are all around us but predominantly in soils. It doesn't matter what made the cut if the exposure comes after the skin is open. The rusty nail is the classic source because it is on the ground to begin with when people step on it.If you've had a booster within 10 yrs you don't need one.
Answered 5/4/2014
4.1k views
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Related Questions
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If tetanus thrives in rust and can be got by small scratches, why weren't cases more than 1 in 100,000 in USA in 1930s? Surely more than that got cuts
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My daughter cut herself on a tin, small cut, tin was clean no rust. Does she need a tetanus injection?
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If I scratch myself with a something rusty and there is no blood and I don't have tetanus shot would I get tetanus? Or no rust where I scratched
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