Newark, NJ
A 25-year-old female asked:
Stepped on rusty nail, there is very small puncture wound, and the skin is red. it didnt bleed at all nor does the wound even hurt. i had a tetanus shot 10 yrs ago, and a booster 6 yrs ago. is that enough?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Joseph Marraanswered
Radiology 31 years experience
Maybe? If the nail went in fairly deep, then you may want to stop in ER. A tetanus booster within 6 years should be good for not getting tetanus. However, if the nail penetrated deeply enough they might give you an antibiotic just in case. Sometimes bacteria from your skin or the nail can cause an infection. If it starts to get red or sore, see your doctor immediately.
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Answered Sep 26, 2021
Last updated Jun 30, 2022
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