Rubella serology in mentally retarded adults.
BACKGROUND
Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome remain a problem in the United States; institutionalized individuals are at higher risk. We assessed demographic variables and rubella serology in a population of institutionalized adults with mental retardation.


METHODS
Subjects were 181 institutionalized adults with mental retardation. We reviewed charts to determine patient's age, sex, race, and fertility status (if female), cause of mental retardation, and rubella history. Serologic testing to determine rubella immunity was done.


RESULTS
We found that 26.4% of subjects were nonimmune. Sex, cause of mental retardation, and history of rubella vaccination were not related to serologic immunity status. Of the 29 fertile female subjects, 8 (27.6%) were nonimmune to rubella.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjects with unknown immunization status had a similar serologic profile to those whose medical records indicated immunization. Neither history of infection nor immunization was predictive of serology status.
Olsen
M E
ME
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City 37614-0569, USA.
Olsen
N M
NM
Breuel
K
K
Burhenn
C
C
Kalbfleisch
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral