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Tetanus immunity in long-term care facilities.

Ritabelle Fernandes1, Victor Valcour, Bret Flynn

  • 1Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School ofMedicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA. ritaferna@cs.com

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|August 2, 2003
PubMed
Summary

A study found that 76.7% of elderly residents in a Hawaii nursing home had adequate tetanus immunity, higher than previously reported. Military service history was linked to immunity, but immunization records were unreliable.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Tetanus immunity is crucial for elderly populations, especially in long-term care settings.
  • Previous studies indicate varying levels of tetanus immunity in older adults.
  • Accurate assessment of tetanus immunity is essential for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with tetanus immunity in elderly residents of a Hawaiian long-term care facility.
  • To compare immunity rates with previously published data.
  • To evaluate the reliability of immunization history as an indicator of immunity.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Honolulu nursing home.
  • Sixty participants aged 65 and older were interviewed regarding demographics, immunization history, military service, and risk factors.

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  • Serum tetanus antibody titers were measured to assess immunity.

    • Main Results:

    • Adequate tetanus antibody titers were found in 76.7% of participants, significantly higher than reported in prior research (27%-46%).
    • A history of military service was significantly associated with adequate tetanus immunity.
    • No significant associations were found between immunity and past immunization history, education, socioeconomic status, or sex.

    Conclusions:

    • Immunization history, whether from patients, families, or charts, may not be a reliable indicator of tetanus immunity in the elderly.
    • Understanding immunization patterns and barriers is vital for developing effective public health policies in long-term care.
    • Higher-than-expected tetanus immunity in this population warrants further investigation into contributing factors.