Anticorpi contro la tossina tetanica nei lavoratori esposti a rischio.

Vaccination against tetanus is mandatory in Italy since 1963 for children and for some professional categories such as farmers, metal workers, stock-breeders, other than agonistic athletes. The aim of the research was to verify if the decennial booster is needful. Hundred subjects (59 males and 41 females) 35.0±11.0 years old, working in Padua University, were admitted to health surveillance and antibody titre against tetanus toxin was determined after an average of 5.3 vaccine doses (range 2-10 doses) and an interval since the last dose of 6.4 years (range 0-21 years). Accurate tetanus vaccination history was collected based on documented data. On the average, antibody titre was 1.59 IU/ml; only two subjects (2%) had titre lower than 0.15 IU/ml. Slight (r=-0.224), but significant (p<0.02) correlation was observed between antibody titre and age, but not number of vaccine doses and interval since the last dose. The results show that the primary series of vaccine is protective for a long period (more than 10 years) and that measure of antibody titre is preferable to injection of no required booster doses (owing to the side effects).