Immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in Army personnel and adult civilians in Mashhad, Iran.

This study aimed to determine serologic immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in army personnel and a sample of adult civilians in Mashhad, Iran. Army personnel (n=180) and civilians (n=83) of whom presented at Mashhad army hospital participated in this study. Diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. About 77% and 94% of army personnel aged 18-34 years had at least basic protection to diphtheria (antitoxin level ≥0.1 IU/ml) and tetanus (antitoxin level >0.1 IU/ml), respectively. For civilians of this age group, these proportions were 76% for both diseases. Antitoxins waned by age. Thus, participants older than 50 years had lower immunity that was more prominent for tetanus in both army personnel and civilians. For both diseases, geometric mean antitoxin titers and proportions of participants with at least basic protection were higher: in subjects with a history of vaccination in the last 10 years (P <0.001), in males compared with females, and in army personnel compared with civilians in each age group. Young army personnel and civilians (18-34 years old) had adequate immunity to diphtheria and tetanus. But the large number of susceptible older adults (>50 years old) calls for a tenacious attachment to booster vaccination protocols. PMID: 27357978 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Jpn J Infect Dis Source Type: research