Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Tetanus is a non-communicable disease, preventable with vaccination. Despite the implemented vaccination strategy, a certain number of tetanus cases per year continue to occur. The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-tetanus antibodies in the Italian population by age, sex and geographical area.
METHODS: To determine the level of tetanus-specific antibodies, an immunoenzymatic assay was used.
RESULTS: A total of 3,821 serum samples were collected in the years 2019-20 from healthy subjects aged 6-90 years residing in 13 Italian regions. Overall, 85 % of the tested subjects resulted positive. The rate of subjects protected against tetanus showed a gradual decrease from the younger age groups to the older ones (6-12 years: 93.6 %, 13-24 years: 91.8 %, 25-39 years: 91.0 %, 40-64 years: 78.2 %, ≥ 65 years: 45.3 %); this is particularly evident in the Southern regions and Islands. Moreover, the prevalence of subjects with low protection (<0.1 IU/ml) was significantly higher in the ≥ 65 age group (10.3 %). Males and females\' prevalence showed a significant difference only in the oldest age group (M: 60.8 %, F: 30.4 %). In general, a higher prevalence was observed for Northern (90.8 %) and Central regions (87.3 %) than Southern regions and Islands (80.0 %).
CONCLUSIONS: These data, compared with epidemiological ones which showed a high number of cases in the elderly, confirmed that the population with lower protection has a greater risk of contracting the disease, demonstrating the need for adequate immunization through both primary vaccination and boosters for all ages and both sexes, in order to provide lifelong protection.
METHODS: To determine the level of tetanus-specific antibodies, an immunoenzymatic assay was used.
RESULTS: A total of 3,821 serum samples were collected in the years 2019-20 from healthy subjects aged 6-90 years residing in 13 Italian regions. Overall, 85 % of the tested subjects resulted positive. The rate of subjects protected against tetanus showed a gradual decrease from the younger age groups to the older ones (6-12 years: 93.6 %, 13-24 years: 91.8 %, 25-39 years: 91.0 %, 40-64 years: 78.2 %, ≥ 65 years: 45.3 %); this is particularly evident in the Southern regions and Islands. Moreover, the prevalence of subjects with low protection (<0.1 IU/ml) was significantly higher in the ≥ 65 age group (10.3 %). Males and females\' prevalence showed a significant difference only in the oldest age group (M: 60.8 %, F: 30.4 %). In general, a higher prevalence was observed for Northern (90.8 %) and Central regions (87.3 %) than Southern regions and Islands (80.0 %).
CONCLUSIONS: These data, compared with epidemiological ones which showed a high number of cases in the elderly, confirmed that the population with lower protection has a greater risk of contracting the disease, demonstrating the need for adequate immunization through both primary vaccination and boosters for all ages and both sexes, in order to provide lifelong protection.
摘要：
背景：破伤风是一种非传染性疾病，可通过接种疫苗预防。尽管实施了疫苗接种策略，每年仍有一定数量的破伤风病例发生。该研究的目的是按年龄评估意大利人群中抗破伤风抗体的血清阳性率，性别和地理区域。
方法：为了确定破伤风特异性抗体的水平，使用免疫酶法。
结果：在2019-20年中，从居住在意大利13个地区的6-90岁健康受试者中收集了总共3,821份血清样本。总的来说,85%的受试对象结果为阳性。从较年轻的年龄组到较年长的年龄组，对破伤风的保护受试者的比率逐渐下降（6-12岁：93.6％，13-24岁：91.8%，25-39岁：91.0%，40-64年：78.2%，≥65岁：45.3%）；这在南部地区和岛屿尤其明显。此外，在≥65岁的人群中,低保护(<0.1IU/ml)患者的患病率显著较高(10.3%).男性和女性的患病率仅在年龄最大的年龄组中显示出显着差异（M：60.8％，F：30.4%）。总的来说,北部地区(90.8%)和中部地区(87.3%)的患病率高于南部地区和岛屿地区(80.0%).
结论：这些数据，与老年人中出现大量病例的流行病学相比，证实保护较低的人群感染这种疾病的风险更大，证明需要通过所有年龄和性别的初级疫苗接种和助推器进行充分的免疫接种，以提供终身保护。
方法：为了确定破伤风特异性抗体的水平，使用免疫酶法。
结果：在2019-20年中，从居住在意大利13个地区的6-90岁健康受试者中收集了总共3,821份血清样本。总的来说,85%的受试对象结果为阳性。从较年轻的年龄组到较年长的年龄组，对破伤风的保护受试者的比率逐渐下降（6-12岁：93.6％，13-24岁：91.8%，25-39岁：91.0%，40-64年：78.2%，≥65岁：45.3%）；这在南部地区和岛屿尤其明显。此外，在≥65岁的人群中,低保护(<0.1IU/ml)患者的患病率显著较高(10.3%).男性和女性的患病率仅在年龄最大的年龄组中显示出显着差异（M：60.8％，F：30.4%）。总的来说,北部地区(90.8%)和中部地区(87.3%)的患病率高于南部地区和岛屿地区(80.0%).
结论：这些数据，与老年人中出现大量病例的流行病学相比，证实保护较低的人群感染这种疾病的风险更大，证明需要通过所有年龄和性别的初级疫苗接种和助推器进行充分的免疫接种，以提供终身保护。
