title: Seroprevalence of measles- and mumps-specific immunoglobulin G among Japanese healthcare students increased during 2007-2012.
abstract: We evaluated the seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among Japanese healthcare students to create immunization guidelines. Between 2007 and 2012, a total of 1746 Japanese medical, nursing, and paramedical students were serologically screened for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies at the time of admission. In 2007, the seroprevalence of measles and mumps was 52.7% and 65.6%, respectively. The seroprevalence of measles dramatically increased to 96.6% in 2009 and was then sustained at >90%. The seroprevalence of mumps gradually increased to >80.0% between 2010 and 2012. The seroprevalence of rubella remained at >90% except in 2008 (85.6%), and the seroprevalence of varicella was sustained at >92% throughout 2007-2012. The seroprevalence of HBV antibody remained at <7% during 2007-2012. Although the seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among Japanese healthcare students increased during the 2007-2012 study period, a substantial number of students were susceptible to vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Therefore, we propose targeted immunization of Japanese healthcare students using serological screening prior to clinical training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsunekawa
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogiwara
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokue
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nara
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obuchi
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suto
authors.forename: Kihachi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009107:Mumps / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013336:Students, Health Occupations; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G