Does any one know ???

[1fish2fish]

Working @ home today I stepped on a rusty nail. Through my work boot and into my foot, enough to make my sock red with blood. I don't remember how long ago I had received a shot for this kind of injury. With the tx i'm on I didn't think it's an issue. I'm going to call the Dr. on Monday, just wondering if this could become a problem. Thanks.......

[Dee1956]

You have already received excellent information.
I am glad you are going to take care of it tomorrow
Dee

[1fish2fish]

Thanks all, to put everyone's mind to rest I talked with my Dr. today it does need to be addressed, I will do so tomorrow. I was told what to watch for and was also told these types of infections don't fester quickly, Monday will be fine to take care of business. I built my son a play ground 10 yrs. ago. It was very BIG. The only way to remove it was with a chain saw and I still spent about 6 hrs. cutting it up. Two full loads in my mason dump. If I were to attempt to bend every nail & screw I'd be there for weeks, not a chance.

[Advocate1955]

I think there may be a certain number of hours after the injury within which you must get your tetanus shot.  If you haven't gone already, go ASAP.  Walk in clinics and urgent care clinics can take care of this for you.
Advocate1955

[dontworry_behappy1]

Hep C Treatment Medication doesn't protect you so you don't have to get
vaccinations.  You still have to get vaccinations you need and might not be
up to date on.  I know that it just seems like this little injury.  But let me
share with you that I had pertussis two years ago...... its real not very
fun.   I have also had lockjaw while on chemotherapy.  Thats really some
thing I will never forget.  It was terrible ... like nothing I have ever experienced.  The lockjaw was from a adverse reaction to medication for
nausea.   Your muscles clamp down in your neck,jaw and shoulders. You
get no relief it just gets worse as time goes on.  It had me laying on the
ER floor screaming for help.  For Safety reasons..... always pull nails out
of material before you lay it down on the ground.  Thats part of construction
safety.
Hope everthing turns out ok

[pooh55811]

I is my understanding that none of the Hep C meds will prevent, lessen, or stop an infection caused by Tetanus or Clostridium.

I did look up the possible drug interactions, just in case:

Drug interactions for the following 3 drug(s):

ribavirin
Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a)
Tetanus-Diphtheria Toxoids, Adult (diphtheria toxoid / tetanus toxoid)

Interactions between your selected drugs

No results found - however, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. ALWAYS consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Other drugs that your selected drugs interact with

    ribavirin interacts with more than 10 other drugs.
    Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) interacts with more than 100 other drugs.
    Tetanus-Diphtheria Toxoids, Adult (diphtheria toxoid / tetanus toxoid) interacts with more than 100 other drugs.

http://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=2009-0,1806-1159,912-10883

Best of luck.

[1fish2fish]

Ok I get the point, no pun intended. I know this can be serious however was not sure if the meds. I'm on would cover me.

[pooh55811]

Puncture wounds from nails (or any other similar object) put a person at risk for Tetanus. In addition, Gas Gangrene, an infection caused by Clostridium Perfringens, can develop in puncture wounds. Both of these infections are extremely serious and can result in death.

Personally, if I stepped on a nail and I did not know when my last tetanus booster was, I would go to the emergency room or urgent care center if one is open and get a booster for Tetanus. I have personally cared for patients who had Tetanus and I have personally cared for patients who had Gas Gangrene.  Believe me, you do not want to get either of these infections.

I copied parts of two separate articles. (The articles are longer and contain more detail.) I also provided the link to each. Reading the entire articles will give you a better understanding of the seriousness of these infections.


Tetanus (from Mayo Clinic):

"Tetanus is a serious bacterial disease that affects your nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can interfere with your ability to breathe and, ultimately, threaten your life. Tetanus is commonly known as "lockjaw."

Tetanus can be treated, but not always effectively. Fatality is highest in individuals who haven't been immunized and in older adults with inadequate immunization — wherever they may live."

Risk factors:
    Lack of immunization or inadequate immunization — failure to receive timely booster shots — against tetanus
    A penetrating injury that results in tetanus spores being introduced to the wound site
    The presence of other infective bacteria
    Injured tissue
    A foreign body, such as a nail or splinter
    Swelling around the injury

Tetanus cases have developed from the following types of injuries:
     Puncture wounds — including from splinters, body piercings, tattoos, injection drugs
    Gunshot wounds
    Compound fractures
    Crush injuries
    Burns
    Surgical wounds
    Ear infections
    Dental infections
    Animal bites
    Infected foot ulcers in people with diabetes

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tetanus/DS00227


Gas Gangrene (from Merck Manuals):

"Gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis) is a life-threatening infection of muscle tissue caused mainly by the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium perfringens and several other species of clostridia.

    Gas gangrene can develop after certain types of surgery or injuries.
    Blisters with gas bubbles form near the infected area, and the heartbeat and breathing become rapid.
    Symptoms suggest the diagnosis, and imaging tests or culture of a sample taken from infected tissue is usually done.
    Treatment involves high doses of antibiotics and surgical removal of dead or infected tissue.

Gas gangrene is a fast-spreading clostridial infection of muscle tissue that, if untreated, quickly leads to death. The bacteria produce gas that becomes trapped in the infected tissue. Several thousand cases occur in the United States every year. Gas gangrene usually develops after injuries or surgery. High-risk injuries include wounds that
    Are deep and severe
    Involve muscle
    Are contaminated with dirt, decaying vegetable matter, or the person's stool
    Contain crushed or dead tissue
High-risk surgery includes operations on the colon or gallbladder.
Gas gangrene can occur when there is no injury or surgery—usually in people with colon cancer. People with open fractures and frostbite are also susceptible to gas gangrene. Gas gangrene may develop when a contaminated needle is used to inject an illegal drug into a muscle."

http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/infections/bacterial_infections/gas_gangrene.html
    

[dontworry_behappy1]

If you can't remember when you had a tetanus shot and you have stepped
on a rusty nail and its bleeding?  How about calling your doctor now.  
I don't think I would be waiting for monday.  
Everyone  should have had a booster in resent years (5) for  (tetanus/pertussis.   Both are very important for people on Hep C.  I would
want to stay well during treatment.   Pertussis is highly contagious and
the CDC has recommended adults get the a booster it is part of a tetanus
shot.

[Idyllic]

Do you happen to know if you have been vaccinated within the last ten years? I wouldn't discount the possibility of what could (could) happen if you were to get an infection. The CDC recommends that adults receive a booster vaccine every ten years so what not go ahead and have one this coming week. I do a lot of work outside and had a similar experience.

I just think that we have to have a care when it comes to infection and maybe be more careful while we are at it :)
Maybe the others can chime in on this. But I figure what the hay (or is that hey?)
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/tetanus/in-short-both.htm

In my case it has been well over 15 years so I went ahead & got the  "adult" vaccine "2-in-1" vaccine that protects against tetanus and diphtheria. I only had to pay my co-pay at Walgreens:

Here is the link:
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/contents.html?docid=002031&doctype=1