Protection against tetanus in the aged people in the Czech Republic--cross-sectional study.

The aged people belong to most vulnerable group for tetanus infection in terms of their vaccination history, frequency of injuries, which may serve as gate of entry for this infection and declared decrease of general as well as specific immunity. The examinations of the aged people for antitetanus antibodies have been done to assess the immunity against tetanus in this particular group of people in the Czech republic. Blood samples were collected from people living in hostels for senior citizens on the bases of signed informed consent. The study focused on people older than 60 years of age. TETANUS ELISA Genzyme Virotech GmbH kit was used for detection of IgG antibodies against tetanus. The level of >0.1 IU/ml was used as protective level of antibodies. Total number of 341 samples was investigated for antibodies against tetanus. Nonprotective (<0.1 IU/ml) titer of antibodies was found in 9.1% of subjects and 90.9% of people possessed protective titers of antibodies against tetanus. The interval between the last vaccination (or revaccination) against tetanus and collection of blood sample was ascertained in 257 subjects and this interval was 10 years or less in 89.9% of subjects. Geometric mean of titers was calculated for different intervals between the last vaccination and collection of blood sample. There was an increasing trend of geometric mean values found with decreasing interval from the last vaccination. But there were also good values of geometric mean of titers found in subjects vaccinated long before collection of blood (intervals up to 27 years). Due to completely different situation in the Czech Republic, where adult people were repeatedly revaccinated in military service (males), in the employment with higher risk of tetanus infection, in context with treatment of injuries and finally during mass vaccination campaigns, organized in the Czech Republic for all adult people in 1974-1976 and in 1984-1986, even the aged people can reach acceptable immunity against tetanus.