Epidemiology of measles immunity in a population of healthcare workers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate epidemiologic factors that can be used to predict lack of measles immunity in healthcare workers.


METHODS
During mandatory screening of employees for measles antibody, a questionnaire was used to collect demographic information.


METHODS
Inpatient hospital, acute care clinics, and skilled nursing facility of a health maintenance organization.


METHODS
Employees of all ages and occupations.


RESULTS
Measles immunity could not be predicted from history of measles disease and vaccination, gender, or birthplace. Of nonimmune employees, 63.7% were in the 20- to 29-year-old age group and 26.5% were in the 30- to 39-year-old age group.


CONCLUSIONS
Age is the most clinically significant predictor of measles antibody, especially in persons born after 1950, who make up a large group susceptible to measles.
Kim
M
M
Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96819.
LaPointe
J
J
Liu
F J
FJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006254:Hawaii; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology*; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine