[Antibody levels to diphtheria in various community segments]

The aim of this study was to detect the immune status of our population against diphtheria. For this purpose, the levels of diphtheria IgG antibodies in various age groups were investigated in 150 subjects aged over 20 years old, by using ELISA method. The positive immunity rate against diphtheria was found 62%, while there was no statistically significant difference between the rates of males (66.7%) and females (57.7%) (p > 0.05). Eighty percent of subjects aged between 20-29 years, 71.4% of 30-39 years, 50% of 40-49 years, 55.6% of 50-59 years, 47.6% of 60-69 years and 60% of 70-79 years old groups were found to have protective levels (over 0.01 IU/ml) of antibodies to diphtheria. There was no significant difference in immunity against diphtheria between these age groups (p > 0.05). However, 76% of subjects aged below 40 years old were immune to diphtheria, while 54% of subjects aged above 40 years old were so, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of immunity between subjects in terms of occupation, levels of education, geographic location and vaccination status (p > 0.05).