What is the recommended tetanus prophylaxis for a patient with a minor wound who has not received a tetanus vaccine in over 10 years?

For a patient with a minor wound who has not received a tetanus vaccine in over 10 years, the recommended approach is to administer both tetanus toxoid and human tetanus immune globulin. This combination is crucial because the tetanus toxoid acts as a vaccination, stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against the tetanus toxin. Since the patient has not been vaccinated in over a decade, they are at increased risk of tetanus infection, and the toxoid helps to bolster immunity.

Human tetanus immune globulin (TIG) provides immediate passive immunity by supplying pre-formed antibodies against the tetanus toxin. This is particularly important for someone who is overdue for their vaccination, as it offers rapid protection while the body takes time to build its own immunity from the tetanus toxoid.

This combined strategy ensures both immediate and long-lasting protection against tetanus, addressing the current wound and the patient's immunization gap effectively, which is why the answer is both tetanus toxoid and human tetanus immune globulin.