bacterial disease/tetanus

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683ba97231242d93219d3277

Infectious

bacterial disease

tetanus

A 55-year-old avid gardener arrives at an urgent care center complaining of severe pain and a deep puncture wound on her right foot. She states she was working in her garden an hour ago when she stepped on a rusty nail protruding from an old wooden plank buried in the soil. The wound is about 3 cm deep, actively oozing dark blood, and appears contaminated with soil and debris. Her past medical history is unremarkable, but she reports she has 'never been good with shots' and cannot recall any vaccinations since childhood. On examination, her vital signs are: temperature 37.5°C, heart rate 88 bpm, blood pressure 130/75 mmHg, respiratory rate 16 breaths/min. The wound site is tender, with surrounding erythema measuring 2 cm, and minimal swelling. Distal pulses are palpable and sensation is intact. Given the patient's presentation and history, what is the most appropriate immediate management strategy and what potential early neurological complication should be actively monitored for in the coming days if prophylaxis is inadequate?

Lab ParameterValueReference Range
White Blood Cell Count8.5 x 10^9/L4.0-10.0 x 10^9/L
C-reactive Protein1.2 mg/L<5.0 mg/L
Hemoglobin135 g/L120-150 g/L

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