title: Evaluation of the effectiveness of vaccination against diphtheria among medical staff of the chair and the Jagiellonian University Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Cracow, Poland. Some epidemiological observations.
abstract: In Poland, twenty-five cases of diphtheria, mostly among adults (including five foreigners) in the region adjacent to the eastern border were registered in the years 1992-1996. In 1993-1994, because of the threat of diphtheria infection, 41 healthy members of the medical staff of the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Kraków, mainly women aged 25-57 years were immunized with Td and d vaccines with a 6-month interval between courses. Prior to vaccination, 17(41%) individuals showed a lack of diphtheria antibodies as determined with a passive haemagglutination test. 14 of them were aged 30-49 years. Six months after the 2nd dose of vaccine, all seronegative persons had developed a protective level of antibodies. Moreover, all vaccinated subjects showed a statistically significant increase of the antibody titre between the first and last serological examinations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Kraków.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borysiewicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caban
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garlicki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zakrzewska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid