%0 Journal Article
%T Seroprotection against tetanus in the Italian general population.
%A Bagordo F
%A Grassi T
%A Rota MC
%A Castiglia P
%A Baldovin T
%A Della Polla G
%A Panico A
%A Ogliastro M
%A Marchi S
%A Vicentini C
%A Immordino P
%A Savio M
%A Gabutti G
%A  
%J Vaccine
%V 42
%N 19
%D 2024 Jul 25
%M 38762356
%F 4.169
%R 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.05.015
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>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.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>To determine the level of tetanus-specific antibodies, an immunoenzymatic assay was used.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>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 %).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>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.