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The products discussed herein may only be dispensed with a prescription from a doctor or healthcare provider.

Tetanus Is Preventable

The risk of serious complications and even death from tetanus can be minimized following injury in patients at risk or with an uncertain tetanus history of active immunization. When immediate protection is needed and time is critical, HyperTET^® S/D, Tetanus Immune Globulin (Human), provides a rapid source of protective antibodies.

Acute Treatment

Emergency physicians can reduce the likelihood of tetanus by:

	1.		Ensuring appropriate wound care to eliminate source of toxin
	2.		Administering HyperTET® S/D to provide a rapid source of antibodies, included with active immunization with tetanus toxoid, when immunization status is unknown or incomplete

When Is Active Immunization Not Enough?

			Active immunization, the triggering of an antibody response following the administration of tetanus toxoid, may not be sufficient to prevent tetanus in an injured patient because of the delay in the generation of adequate, protective circulating antibodies
			Tetanus toxoid alone is not sufficient in at-risk populations, eg, the elderly or those with unknown or incomplete immune status
			Passive immunization with HyperTET® S/D provides rapid protection when administered concomitantly with tetanus toxoid to provide long-term immunity in injured, unprotected individuals

Vaccines often take weeks to confer full protection, creating a gap of immune vulnerability that may be life threatening.

Optimize immune protection and close the gap by administering both and immunoglobulin and a vaccine.

Recommended Use of HyperTET^® S/D

Indicated for prophylaxis against tetanus following injury in patients whose immunization is incomplete or uncertain. A thorough attempt must be made to determine whether a patient has completed primary vaccinations. Patients with unknown or uncertain previous vaccination histories should be considered to have had no previous tetanus toxoid doses.

For short-term, passive, transient post-exposure prevention of tetanus infection.

For Intramuscular Administration Only 

 

Needle guard can protect against post-injection needlesticks



Product Attributes

			Solvent/Detergent treatment for viral inactivation (See Product Insert [PDF])
			Pre-filled syringes for single-use IM injection only
			Tamper-evident packaging

Contraindications, side effects, and precautions

			Use caution in persons with a history of prior systemic allergic reaction to human immune globulin products or a history of IgA deficiency
			Administration of live virus vaccines (eg, MMR) should be deferred for approximately 3 months after tetanus immune globulin (human) administration
			The most common side effects reported are slight soreness at the site of injection and slight temperature elevation

Tetanus Information

Tetanus is an acute bacterial disease caused by the toxin of the bacterium clostridium tetani. Tetanus affects the central nervous system and is characterized by increased muscle tone and persistent tonic spasms. Tetanus sometimes results in death.

The bacterium is commonly found in soil and is introduced into the host through a cut or opening. Symptoms include tightness in the jaw muscles that progresses to "lockjaw," as well as sudden, intermittent, painful, generalized muscle spasms that can interfere with breathing.

Treatment involves administration of a tetanus immune globulin, which neutralizes the toxin, and intravenous metronidazole, which destroys the toxin-producing bacterium. Occasionally, surgical removal of infected tissue also might be necessary. Other medications can ease the specific symptoms of a tetanus infection.

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 (e.g., 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.
			To view Prescribing Information for HyperTET S/D, please visit http://www.talecris-pi.info/inserts/hypertet.pdf
			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.