The earlier the tetanus vaccine is administered after a minor cut by rust, the better the results will be. It is generally recommended that the vaccine be administered within 24 hours, and no later than 1 week. Tetanus is an extremely serious disease with a high mortality rate, and its incubation period is generally 7-8 days, and can be as short as 24 hours or as long as months or years, the shorter the incubation period, the worse the prognosis. However, tetanus can be prevented, early and thorough debridement of the patient after injury to improve local circulation, early injection of tetanus antitoxin is essential to prevent tetanus. Tetanus toxoid is short-lived, with an expiration date of about 10 days. For deep wounds that may be infected with anaerobic bacteria, an additional injection can be given after 1 week. In contrast, passive human tetanus immunoglobulin injections may be given to those who have not received or completed the full course of active immunization and have contaminated wounds, improper debridement, or severe open injuries. In addition, because tetanus antitoxin is prone to allergic reactions, patients must undergo skin testing before injection.