Measles immunity in an Italian teaching hospital

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Epidemiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Healthcare workers (HCWs) face elevated measles exposure risks, endangering themselves, patients, and families.
• Italy reported 4617 measles cases in 2017, including 302 HCWs.
• National guidelines mandate measles immunity evidence for all HCWs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess measles immunization status among HCWs at a major Italian teaching hospital.
• Evaluate the prevalence of protective measles-specific IgG antibody titres in HCWs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of clinical records and measles-specific IgG antibody titres.
• Study conducted during occupational health surveillance from January to August 2017.
• Inclusion of 1532 HCWs in the evaluation.

Main Results:

• 87% (1328) of HCWs demonstrated protective measles antibody titres.
• The highest proportion of protective titres was observed in individuals born before 1982.
• No significant gender-based differences in mean IgG antibody titres were found.

Conclusions:

• A substantial percentage of HCWs exhibit non-protective measles IgG antibody titres, particularly those born in the 1980s and 1990s.
• The hospital environment presents a heightened risk for measles transmission.
• Recommendations include intensified prevention strategies, such as rigorous screening and timely vaccination of non-immune HCWs.