title: Low prevalence of diphtheria immunity in the Spanish population: results of a cross-sectional study.
abstract: A seroepidemiological study was conducted on a representative sample (n = 3944) of the Spanish population to assess the immune status to diphtheria. A total of 1907 men and 2037 women in the 5-59 years age range were stratified by sex and age (5-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 years). Concentrations of toxin antibodies were measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Samples with titres > or = 0.1 IU/ml were considered to show full protection. Only 26% (95% CI: 25-28%) of the overall population studied was fully protected. The highest number of subjects with uncertain or no protection was found in the 20-39 age group (> 85%). The prevalence of fully protected subjects progressively declined from 51% for the 5-12 year age group, to 14% for the 30-39 year age group, whereas it increased to 20% and 35% for the 40-49 and the 50-59 year age groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). These results stress the need to intensify vaccination programs in adolescents and adults with periodic booster doses of diphtheria toxoid.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García-Corbeira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dal-Ré
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-de-Lomas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aguilar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin