Serosurvey of rubella antibody among health personnel of Songklanagarind University Hospital, Thailand.
A serosurvey of rubella antibody among health personnel using the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody test was carried out. All 366 health workers including 256 females were from Songklanagarind University Hospital, of which 116 (31.7%) health workers had no detectable HAI antibody. Of these, 93 were females which represented 36.3% of the total 256 in the series, while 20.9% of the males had no antibody. Females are more susceptible. Among 250 seropositive persons 3 males and 3 females had detectable rubella IgM antibody. All the seronegatives (titer less than 1 :8) were given rubella vaccination (RA 27/3, Wistar strain) and all converted. Among these, 13 (11.2%) developed side effects about two weeks after vaccination. All symptoms subsided within a week without symptomatic therapy. It is advocated that health personnel should be screened for rubella HAI antibody and that seronegative persons should be vaccinated.
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013785:Thailand; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral