- Diphtheria
- Tetanus and Wound Management
- Pertussis
- Tetanus and Wound Management
- Tetanus
- Wound Management
How long after a wound occurs is tetanus immune globulin (TIG) no longer recommended?
The incubation period of tetanus ranges from 3 to 21 days, averaging about 10 days. In general, the further the injury site is from the central nervous system, the longer the incubation period. In the opinion of the tetanus experts at the CDC, for a person who has been vaccinated but is not up to date, there is probably little benefit in giving TIG more than a week or so after the injury. For a person believed to be completely unvaccinated, it is suggested to increase this interval to 3 weeks (i.e., up to day 21 post injury). Td or Tdap should be given concurrently with TIG.