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Tetanus immunity in neonates in a developed country

Andrea-Romana Prusa1, Ursula Wiedermann, David C Kasper

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Neonatology, Intensive Care and Neuropaediatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Neonatology
|January 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Tetanus immunity was evaluated in Austrian newborns. Over 14% lacked adequate protection, highlighting the need for robust prenatal vaccination to safeguard infants.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Industrialized nations have established vaccination programs, implying complete tetanus immunity in mothers and newborns.
  • Passive immunity is expected via transplacental transfer of maternal tetanus antibodies to offspring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess seroprotection against tetanus in Austrian newborns.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of maternal tetanus antibody transfer.

Main Methods:

  • Cord blood samples from 99 deliveries were collected.
  • Antibody concentrations against tetanus toxoid were measured using standardized ELISA.

Main Results:

  • 85.8% of newborns had protective tetanus antibody levels (≥0.1 IU/ml).
  • 9.1% showed low seropositivity, and 5.1% had no detectable tetanus antibodies.
  • The median antibody concentration was 0.95 IU/ml.

Conclusions:

  • A significant portion (14.2%) of newborns in Austria demonstrated inadequate tetanus immunity.
  • This underscores the importance of prenatal vaccination, even with widespread immunization programs.
  • Maternal immunization during pregnancy is recommended when indicated for newborn protection.
Abstract

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