[Prevalence of tetanus immunity in metal mechanical workers]

The results of a seroepidemiological prevalence survey on the immune status against tetanus of steelmill workers (who, limited to the new work call ups, had to be vaccinated since 1968) are reported. We did not observe remarkable differences in protection against tetanus among those who had begun work before 1968 (46.4% protected) and after 1968 (53.5% protected). In both cases, the protective values were the result of immunization procedures that were performed exclusively in consequence of the military service and/or on the occasion of industrial accident and/or road accident or of accidents of other kinds. It appears, moreover, that the protection of workers against this disease is, nowadays, too often relying on serum prophylaxis, which was the only preventive measure adopted for over half of the workers. In the light of the reported data we need to enforce the existing legislative measures.