[Vaccines and sport: risk perception among athletes]

Infection prevention is a key issue in both general population and in categories at risk, among which the athletes. There are risk factors related to the sporting practice performed at every level, from the amateur to the elite athletes. The control of the vaccination schedule and the empowerment of the sportsman in this area should be carried out both by the General Practitioner or the Pediatrician and by the federations to which the athletes belong. There is a need for guidelines and it is necessary to inform the athletes. This study was performed to evaluate the attitude of groups of athletes regarding infectious diseases and vaccination and confirms the lack of attention towards immunization in sports. Protocols for sport medical examinations, indeed, do not require controls on the state of vaccination and the offer of specific vaccines. It is therefore important the role that scientific societies are taking on in recommending immune prophylaxis for sportsmen.