Abstract
Ignoring the importance of receiving booster doses of vaccines in vast majority of adults could result in their lack of immunity against tetanus and diphtheria. In this prospective cohort study all immunocompetent adults ≥ 40 years old who were admitted for any reason during the time period of the survey were enrolled and antibody levels against tetanus and diphtheria were measured. 84 patients (48%) were 40 - 60 years old and 93 (52%) subjects aged older than 60 years. In general, anti-tetanus antibody titer was <0.1 IU/mL (non-immune range) in 83 people (46.9%). For anti-diphtheria antibody, 74 (41.8%) were considered non-immune. Of all people whose tetanus antibody level was <0.1, 19 had a complete history of childhood diphtheria and tetanus immunization and 64 had unknown vaccination history. Among people with diphtheria antibody levels < 0.1, 18 (24.3%) had complete history of childhood vaccination and 56 (75.6%) had unknown history.
Highlights
Diphtheria and tetanus are serious diseases with considerable mortality that are preventable by immunization
In this prospective cohort study all immunocompetent adults ≥ 40 years old who were admitted for any reason during the time period of the survey were enrolled and antibody levels against tetanus and diphtheria were measured. 84 patients (48%) were 40 - 60 years old and 93 (52%) subjects aged older than 60 years
According to the guidelines presented by the national immunization program in Iran, DPT vaccines, containing diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis toxoids are given at ages 2, 4, 6, 18 months and 6 years [1]
Summary
Diphtheria and tetanus are serious diseases with considerable mortality that are preventable by immunization. Tdap is similar to Td and containing acellular pertussis antigens Wherever it is available, adolescents 11 - 18 years of age (preferably at age 11 - 12 years) and adults 19 and older should receive a single dose of Tdap [3]. This study aims to measure protective levels of antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus in people over 40 years (e.g. at least 10 - 20 years after their last mandatory booster vaccination). If levels of antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus are found to be in non-immune range (
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