Tetanus incidence and immunity in Poland

Abstract

The level of tetanus antibody was determined with the passive hemagglutination method in 503 sera of 10 to 90-year-old persons. Immunity to tetanus was age-dependent: the percentage of immune persons amounted to 90%-100% in persons below 40 years and then declined to 70% and 60% in persons in the 40-50 and above 50 year-old groups, respectively. Males above 30 years are better immunized than females. The comparison of the results of the present study with results of several periodic surveys performed in the last 27 years showed gradually increasing immunity level in all age groups. The findings are in agreement with age-dependent incidence of tetanus, which has become now, in Poland, a disease primarily of older people.

Quantitation of anti‐tetanus and anti‐diphtheria antibodies by enzymoimmunoassay: Methodology and applications

“…The third patient had protective levels of antibody, and the diagnosis of tetanus was later ruled out on the basis of the clinical evolution. Our results agree with the observation made by many different authors that in developed countries tetanus has become a disease of old age (2)(3)(4), pointing to the lack of adequate protection of this population. Epidemiological surveys currently being conducted are likely to add further proof of the low state of immunization of older individuals.…”

“…Although tetanus and diphtheria cases have become relatively rare and sporadic diseases in the recent past (the average annual incidence of clinical tetanus in 1987-1988 was of 0.02 cases/100,000 U.S. population [2]), there is an increasing population of unimmunized or improperly immunized individuals among the very old (1, 3,4,21,22) and in some groups of preschool children, particularly among immigrants from underdeveloped countries, who are not adequately vaccinated. In these segments of the population there is fertile ground for a recrudescence of both diphtheria and tetanus in the near future.…”

“…Currently, clinical tetanus is mostly seen in older individuals who have lost immunity or who were never immunized (2)(3)(4).…”

“…Since active immunization of infants with diphtheria (DT) and tetanus (TT) toxoids was adopted as part of the routine postnatal care in most developed and developing countries in the 1950s (I), the incidence of tetanus and diphtheria decreased significantly worldwide. Currently, clinical tetanus is mostly seen in older individuals who have lost immunity or who were never immunized (2)(3)(4).…”