Tetanus antitoxin (equine)
Equine tetanus antitoxin guidance retained as an obsolete reference, with dosing for wound prophylaxis and clinical tetanus plus hypersensitivity precautions.
Use restrictions
Equine tetanus antitoxin should no longer be used, as there is a risk of hypersensitivity and serum sickness.
It should be replaced by human tetanus immunoglobulin.
Therapeutic action
Neutralisation of tetanus toxin. Tetanus antiserum provides temporary passive immunity against tetanus for 2 weeks.
Indications
- Prevention of tetanus in wound management, in patients non-immunised or incompletely immunised or in patients whose immunisation status is unknown, in combination with tetanus vaccine.
- Treatment of clinical tetanus.
Composition, forms and strengths, route of administration
Solution prepared from the serum of horses immunised against tetanus toxin.
1500 IU in 1 ml ampoule, for IM injection.
Dosage and duration
Prevention of tetanus
Tetanus antiserum is administered in the event of tetanus-prone wounds, for example wounds with fracture, deep penetrating wounds, bite wounds, wounds containing foreign bodies, wounds contaminated with soil, infected wounds, or extensive tissue damage such as contusions and burns.
- Child and adult: 1500 IU single dose; 3000 IU if more than 24 hours has elapsed.
- It is administered as soon as possible after injury, along with the tetanus vaccine, in a separate syringe and injection site.
Treatment of tetanus
- Neonate: 1500 IU single dose.
- Child and adult: 10 000 IU single dose.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with known allergy to tetanus antiserum.
- May cause hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylactic shock, Quincke oedema, and serum sickness up to 10 days after injection.
- Administer following Besredka's method: inject 0.1 ml by SC route and wait 15 minutes; if no local or general allergic reactions occur, inject 0.25 ml by SC route and wait 15 minutes; if no reactions, administer the injection by IM route.
- Ensure that the injection does not enter a blood vessel: aspirate prior to injection to confirm that the needle is not in a vein.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
Rate this guide
Be the first to rate this guide.