title: Immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases in Finnish pediatric healthcare workers in 2015.
abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) pose a risk to themselves and their patients if not protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Alarmingly, lacking immunity has been reported in several studies. We assessed the immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases in 157 pediatric HCWs in Helsinki Children's Hospital. The HCWs enrolled answered a questionnaire and gave a serum sample. Antibodies were measured with EIA against MMR-diseases, tetanus and diphtheria toxins, Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis A (HAV), varicella zoster and pertussis toxin. Neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus 1, 2 and 3 were measured. All of the HCWs had antibodies against tetanus and 89.8% against diphtheria. All had measurable levels of polio antibodies to all three polioviruses. 41% had suboptimal levels of antibodies against at least one of the antigens tested: MMR-viruses, diphtheria, HBV or polio. Measles, mumps and rubella antibodies were detectable in 81.5%, 89.2% and 93%, respectively. Only one HCW had no varicella-antibodies. Hepatitis B surface antibodies (HBsAb) were detected in 89.8% of the nurses. 67.5% had HAV-antibodies. A poor correlation between detected antibody levels and reported vaccination history was noticed, indicating a need for a universal record system for registering the vaccines given to each individual.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: karoliina.tirri@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Karoliina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koivisto
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puhakka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Services (HUSLAB), Department of Virology and Immunology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lappalainen
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, The Viral Infections Unit, Finland.
authors.forename: Soile
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saxén
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nieminen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006282:Health Personnel; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Healthcare workers; Immunity; Vaccination; Vaccine-preventable diseases