Relationship Between Tetanus Antitoxin Titration Level and Vaccination History

Year 2017, Volume: 8 Issue: 4, 104 - 109, 29.12.2017

Meltem Işıkgöz Taşbakan , Raika Durusoy , Selma Tosun

https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.382398

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to determine tetanus antitoxin levels and to
evaluate their relationship with history of vaccination among patients applying
to the outpatient clinics of a University hospital.

Methods: A questionnaire including socio-demographic
characteristics and tetanus vaccination status was applied and blood samples
taken from 218 subjects between 1 and 30 June 2015. Participants were
classified into five groups according to their vaccination timing.

Results: The mean age of participants was 46.7±15.4 years and
134 (61.5%) were women. Tetanus antitoxin levels were found weak positive in 54
(24.8%) patients, positive in 44 (20.2%) and strong positive in 120 (55.0%).
Tetanus antitoxin level positivity was significantly associated with
vaccination timing according to history. Among 105 participants who did not
remember being vaccinated or who knew they were vaccinated but did not remember
the date, 16 (15.2%) remembered the vaccination time when their injury,
military service and pregnancy were questioned specifically. Antitoxin levels
decreased with increasing age independent of gender (0.9-fold increase/year).

Conclusion: We found that the booster dose recommended every 10
years was not applied sufficiently. Tetanus vaccination history must be
questioned in more detail among people who do not remember/know their
vaccination history, with specific questions regarding pregnancy, military
service and injury histories. 

Keywords

C.tetani, tetanus, vaccine, immunization history

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