Seroprevalence of Measles- and Mumps-Specific Immunoglobulin G among Japanese Healthcare Students Increased during 2007–2012

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 66; no. 5; pp. 411 - 415
• Main Authors: Kimura, Takao, Tsunekawa, Katsuhiko, Ogiwara, Takayuki, Tokue, Yutaka, Nara, Makoto, Inoue, Toshiya, Obuchi, Toshiko, Suto, Chiaki, Ohshima, Kihachi, Murakami, Masami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee 2013
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Female; healthcare students; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; hospital-acquired infection; Humans; immunization; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Measles - epidemiology; Measles virus - immunology; Mumps - epidemiology; Mumps virus - immunology; Rubella virus - immunology; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Students, Health Occupations; vaccines; Varicella-zoster virus; Young Adult; Japan
• ISSN: 1344-6304; 1884-2836
• DOI: 10.7883/yoken.66.411

We evaluated the seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among Japanese healthcare students to create immunization guidelines. Between 2007 and 2012, a total of 1746 Japanese medical, nursing, and paramedical students were serologically screened for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies at the time of admission. In 2007, the seroprevalence of measles and mumps was 52.7% and 65.6%, respectively. The seroprevalence of measles dramatically increased to 96.6% in 2009 and was then sustained at >90%. The seroprevalence of mumps gradually increased to >80.0% between 2010 and 2012. The seroprevalence of rubella remained at >90% except in 2008 (85.6%), and the seroprevalence of varicella was sustained at >92% throughout 2007–2012. The seroprevalence of HBV antibody remained at <7% during 2007–2012. Although the seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among Japanese healthcare students increased during the 2007–2012 study period, a substantial number of students were susceptible to vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Therefore, we propose targeted immunization of Japanese healthcare students using serological screening prior to clinical training.