[Assessment of the tetanus immune status in plasma donors of the Blood Donor Service of the Bavarian Red Cross]

Abstract

Background and objective: Tetanus is nowadays largely under control, as a result of the preventive immunization programme. This prophylactic measure is important also because there is no specific treatment. In Germany tetanus occurs almost exclusively in elderly, not adequately immunized persons. This study determined the existing immune status of plasma donors in the region of Ingolstadt, Bavaria.

Subjects and methods: Tetanus IgG antibody concentrations were measured with the ELISA test in serum of 1742 plasma donors (891 women, 851 men, age range 18-64 years).

Results: An adequately protective immunity against tetanus was found in 98.7% of men and 94.1% of women, while 5 women and 3 men had no protection. Demographic data indicated that the immunization protected males longer than females, regardless of age, especially in those over 50 years of age (85% of females, 99% of males).

Conclusion: Adequate tetanus protection was achieved in the overwhelming majority of test subjects. This demonstrates that the prevalence of protection is lower in females than in males, a difference most marked in those over 50 years of age. It is important that this age group in particular should, as part of health care, be informed by their medical practitioner of the dangers of tetanus and the advantages of immunization.