[[[ Background: ]]] Despite the implementation of the obligatory anti-tetanus vaccination, the tetanus cases in Greece are not eliminated. Because of the increased possibility of Clostridium tetani infection of the Northern Halkidiki population–like any other rural population the evaluation of the immunity to tetanus in the area is considered necessary. [[[ Methods: ]]] The tetanus antitoxin levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 405 healthy adult individuals attending the health center for routine laboratory tests. [[[ Results: ]]] 64.4% of the studied population was found protected (tetanus antitoxin levels > or = 0.1 IU/ml). The percentage of protected people decreased as age increased from 83.3% in the 21-30 to 51.2% in the > 60 age group. 82.1% of the tested males and 52.6% of the tested females had tetanus antitoxin levels > or = 0.1 IU/ml (p < 0.0001). The percentages of immune men (100-66.2% in various age groups) were found higher than those of women (80.8-35.5% in the respective age groups). The geometrical mean titres (GMTs) were 0.44 in all of 261 immune people, 0.53 in 133 immune men and 0.37 in 128 immune women (p = 0.0021). [[[ Conclusion: ]]] The proportion of protection among men over 60 and women over 30 years old is inadequate, the levels of tetanus antitoxin decline with age and a significant difference was found between the proportion of protection of males and females.
Serological survey of immunity to tetanus in adult population of Northern Halkidiki, Greece
그리스 북부 할키디키 성인의 파상풍 면역에 대한 혈청 조사
[Category] 파상풍,
[Article Type] journal-article
[Source] pubmed
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