Tetanus Immunity in Elderly People

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 99 - 102
• Main Authors: MURPHY, SUSAN M., HEGARTY, DEIRDRE M., FEIGHERY, CONLETH S., WALSH, J. BERNARD, WILLIAMS, YVONNE, COAKLEY, DAVIS P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.03.1995; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Clostridium tetani - immunology; Day Care, Medical; Disease; Elderly; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Health aspects; Health initiatives; Humans; Immunity; Immunity (Disease); Immunization; Immunization Programs; Immunization Schedule; Long-Term Care; Male; Medical research; Older people; Tetanus; Tetanus - immunology; Tetanus - prevention & control; Tetanus Toxoid - administration & dosage; Tetanus Toxoid - immunology; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/24.2.99

The aims of this study were to document the level of tetanus immunity in elderly people; to assess the value of immunization history in predicting tetanus immune status and to determine the response to tetanus immunization in elderly people compared with younger subjects. One-hundred day-hospital attenders (group 1), 100 long-term-care residents (group 2) and 50 young subjects (group 3) were recruited. Protective titres of tetanus antitoxin antibodies were detected in 20% of group 1, 45% of group 2 and 80% of group 3. Tetanus immunization history was a poor predictor of immune status in older people with a positive predictive value of 50% and a negative predictive value of 76%. The response to tetanus immunization was slower and of lower magnitude in older people. However, 36 of 37 older subjects developed protective levels of tetanus antitoxin antibodies on completion of a primary immunization programme.