Investigation of Tetanus Antibody Levels in Adults

Aim: Tetanus is an acute and lethal disease caused by exotoxins named tetanospasminproduced by Clostridium tetani. Despite being vaccine-preventable, tetanus is still a toxicinfectious disease with high mortality. In this cross-sectional study, it is aimed to determinelevels of tetanus anti-toxin IgG and factors affecting it in adults in the region.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with patients applied to theblood sampling laboratory unit of Düzce University Hospital. Tetanus anti-toxin IgG EnzymeLinked Immuno Sorbent Assay kits (Catalog number: EI 2060-9601 G, Euroimmun, Germany)were used for detection of tetanus antibodies. Those with tetanus anti-toxin IgG >0.1 IU/mlwere considered immunized. Socio-demographic information of participants were collectedusing a questionnaire during blood collection.Results: Sufficient tetanus antibody was detected in 140 (39.3%) of 356 patients. Protectiveantibody ratios were found as 49 (70.0%) in 30-40 age group, 39 (54.9%) in 41-50 age group,22 (31.0%) in 51-60 age group, 16 (22.2%) in 61-70 age group and 14 (19.4%) in >71 agegroup. Tetanus immunity ratios were significantly reduced with aging (p71 yaş grubunda 14 (%19,4) oranlarında saptanmıştır. Tetanoza bağışıklık oranlarının yaşlanma ile birlikte belirgin biçimde azaldığı görülmüştür (p<0,001). Eğitim süresi fazla olanlar ve herhangi bir nedenle erişkin yaşlarında aşı yapılan gruplarda koruyucu düzeydeki antikorlar diğer gruplara göre daha yüksek oranda bulunmuştur (her iki p