Tetanus immunity in older adults.
The frequency of tetanus has declined little in the past decade. The majority of cases occur in persons over 50 years of age. A sample of 225 blood donors, between the ages of 50 and 68, from a mixed rural-suburban county, were tested for tetanus antitoxin levels. Only 14% had protective levels. This low rate indicates the need for increased attention to tetanus immunizations in older adults.
Wesche
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HA
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602.
Overfield
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D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D013383:Suburban Population; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology*; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000097:blood
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin