Seroprevalence survey on measles, mumps, rubella and varicella antibodies in healthcare workers in Japan: sex, age, occupational-related differences and vaccine efficacy

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 142; no. 1; pp. 12 - 19
• Main Authors: KUMAKURA, S., SHIBATA, H., ONODA, K., NISHIMURA, N., MATSUDA, C., HIROSE, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Age groups; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Chicken pox; Chickenpox; Chickenpox vaccines; Childhood Infections; Cohort Studies; Epidemics; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health care; Health care industry; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Hepatitis; Hospitals; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization; Infections; Infectious diseases; Influenza; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Measles; Measles mumps rubella vaccines; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine - administration & dosage; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine - immunology; Medical personnel; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Mumps; Original Papers; Otolaryngology; Pharmaceuticals; Questionnaires; Rubella; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Surgery; Vaccination - statistics & numerical data; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Viral infections; Asia; Japan; Far east; seroprevalence survey; Healthcare workers; rubella; measles; mumps; varicella; vaccination; Rubella; Skin disease; Prevalence; Antibody; Sex; Health care staff; Serology; Vaccine; Epidemiology; Infection; Efficiency; Viral disease; Measles; Varicella; Mumps; Age
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268813000393

A seroprevalence survey on measles, mumps, rubella and varicella was conducted on healthcare workers (HCWs) at Shimane University Hospital, Japan utilizing an enzyme immunoassay. Of 1811 HCWs tested, 91·8% were seropositive to measles, 92·1% to mumps, 89·5% to rubella and 96·3% to varicella. Sex-related differences in seroprevalence were found in rubella (males vs. females: 84·7 vs. 92·2%, P < 0·001). Moreover, males aged 30–39 years were most susceptible to rubella (22·4%), which may be attributed to the design of childhood immunization programmes in Japan. Individuals aged ⩽29 years were more susceptible to measles (14·3%) and mumps (10·9%), compared to other age groups. There were no significant sex- and age-related differences in varicella seroprevalence. The physician occupational group was more susceptible to rubella, but no significant occupational-related difference was observed in the other diseases. Susceptible subjects, with negative or equivocal serological results were given a vaccine which induced seroconversion in most vaccinees. Seroconversion occurred more frequently in the equivocal group than in the negative group. These findings provide a new insight for the seroprevalence survey of vaccine-preventable diseases in Japanese HCWs with special reference to vaccine efficacy.