Diphtheria and Tetanus (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids) Drug Overview and Uses for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

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May 27, 2012

Diptheria and Tetanus

Tetanus »

Tetanus facts

Tetanus is frequently a fatal infectious disease.
Tetanus is caused by a type of bacteria (Clostridium tetani).
The tetanus bacteria often enter the body through a puncture wound, which can be caused by nails, splinters, insect bites, burns, any skin break, and injection-drug sites.
All children and adults should be immunized against tetanus by receiving vaccinations.
A tetanus booster is needed every 10 years after primary immunization or after a puncture or other skin wound which could provide the tetanus bacteria an opportunity to enter the body.

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is an acute, often-fatal disease of the nervous system that is caused by nerve toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This bacterium is found throughout the world in the soil and in animal and human intestines.

Where do tetanus bacteria ...

Read the Tetanus article »

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Diphtheria and Tetanus

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Diphtheria and Tetanus
Toxoids Adsorbed USP
(For Pediatric Use)

Caution: Federal (USA) law prohibits dispensing without prescription.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed USP (For Pediatric Use) (DT), for intramuscular use, is a sterile suspension of alum-precipitated (aluminum potassium sulfate) toxoid in an isotonic sodium chloride solution. The vaccine, after shaking, is a turbid liquid, whitish-gray in color.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae cultures are grown in a modified Mueller and Miller medium.¹Clostridium tetani cultures are grown in a peptone-based medium containing bovine extract. The meat used in this medium is US sourced. Both toxins are detoxified with formaldehyde. The detoxified materials are then separately purified by serial ammonium sulfate fractionation and diafiltration. The 1 dose vial of vaccine is formulated without preservatives but contains a trace amount of thimerosal (a mercury [Hg] containing compound) from the manufacturing process (≤0.3 mg Hg/0.5 mL dose).The multidose (5 mL) vial of vaccine contains the preservative thimerosal (25 mg Hg/0.5 mL dose).

Each 0.5 mL dose is formulated to contain 6.7 Lf of diphtheria toxoid,5 Lf of tetanus toxoid, and not more than 0.17 mg of aluminum. The residual formaldehyde content, by assay, is less than 0.02%.Both toxoids induce at least 2 units of antitoxin per mL in the guinea pig potency test.

REFERENCES

1. Mueller JH, et al. Production of diphtheria toxin of high potency (100 Lf) on a reproducible medium. J Immunol 40:21-32,1941

Last reviewed on RxList: 6/8/2006
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.