Epidemiological Study of Tetanus Seropositivity Levels in Different Age Groups in Ankara Province, Turkey, 2017

Abstract

The aim of this research is to determine the seropositivity levels of tetanus vaccine according to age groups in Ankara province, to identify possible factors that could affect the immune status, and to make recommendations especially in people aged 50 years and older. This cross-sectional epidemiological study covers people over three years of age registered in the Family Medicine Information System. We received blood samples from 992 people and 968 of them were surveyed. Protective tetanus antibody levels were 80.5% in the age group of 3-5 years; 92.0% in the age group of 6-12 years; 94.3% in the age group of 13-20 years; 95.2% in the age group of 21-39 years; 84.4% in the age group of 40-49 years; 50 years and older were found to be 57.3%. Tetanus seropositivity decreased with age. It will be useful to increase the awareness of the importance of tetanus vaccine boosters for adults by giving trainings, to ensure booster vaccination against tetanus at intervals of 10 years and to consider obligatory tetanus vaccination if necessary for age group of 50 years and older.

Erişkinlerde Tetanoz Antikor Düzeylerinin Araştırılması

“…Similar comments were made in some studies where protection was found to be higher. Looking at the studies in Turkey, it was reported in a study conducted with people age range 3-104 years in Ankara that protective tetanus antibody levels were found in 45.2% of females and in 54.8% of males (13). There were no significant differences between males and females in terms of protectiveness in other studies conducted in Turkey (8,(13)(14)(15).…”

“…Looking at the studies in Turkey, it was reported in a study conducted with people age range 3-104 years in Ankara that protective tetanus antibody levels were found in 45.2% of females and in 54.8% of males (13). There were no significant differences between males and females in terms of protectiveness in other studies conducted in Turkey (8,(13)(14)(15). Looking at the examples from the world, it was found that 37% of men and 64% of women were below the protective level of antibody titers in a study conducted in a 30-70 age group in Denmark (9).…”

Practice and Knowledge Level of Health Professionals on Prevention of Tetanus

“…In adults with unknown or incomplete primary vaccination, primary vaccination program should be started and should be completed. 11 In the studies performed, the levels of protective antibodies against tetanus were found to be sufficient in children and adolescents; whereas in 50% of patients over the age of 40, protective antibody titer against tetanus had been found to be insufficient. 5,13,14 In a recent study in our country; sufficient tetanus antibody was detected in 140 (39.…”

“…In adults with unknown or incomplete primary vaccination, primary vaccination program should be started and should be completed. 11 In the studies performed, the levels of protective antibodies against tetanus were found to be sufficient in children and adolescents; whereas in 50% of patients over the age of 40, protective antibody titer against tetanus had been found to be insufficient. 5,13,14 17 In order to reach the targeted vaccination rates, the society should be informed about tetanus and vaccination to be protected from tetanus and ensuring sustainability of immunization in individuals with appropriate vaccination programs is the most important step.…”

“…[7][8][9][10] There is no surveillance for tetanus vaccination in adults in Turkey According to surveillance data collected by the Department of Communicable Diseases, 46 of 62 reported cases of tetanus (74.2%) diagnosed between 2012 and 2016 were 45 years and older. 11 In Turkey, 3-dose vaccination is recommended for primary immunization in adults for tetanus protection by the Standing Committee on Vaccination. It should be at least 4 weeks between the first and the second doses and the third dose should be performed 6-12 months after the second dose.…”