Immunity against diphtheria in adults in Poland.

The diphtheria immunity status was determined with the passive haemagglutination technique in 503 sera of 10-90-year-old persons from Warsaw and Olsztyn Provinces. Donors of sera were students, teachers, pregnant women, employees of industry and medical service. The immunity was highest (90% of titers 0.1 IU/ml or higher) in persons below 20 years of age and in persons above 60 years of age (55%). Between these two groups, gaps in immunity exist, the proportion of those immune varying from 36-50% in the 20- 60-year-old groups. Since a large pool of susceptible persons creates an epidemic potential it was suggested that the adult type of tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) should be introduced into the routine immunization schedule for high risk groups. These groups might include professional or age groups who are vulnerable to reintroduction of virulent Corynebacterium diphtheriae such as kindergarten and creches personnel, teachers, students, military service personnel and persons travelling to developing countries.

Tetanus incidence and immunity in Poland.

The level of tetanus antibody was determined with the passive hemagglutination method in 503 sera of 10 to 90-year-old persons. Immunity to tetanus was age-dependent: the percentage of immune persons amounted to 90%-100% in persons below 40 years and then declined to 70% and 60% in persons in the 40-50 and above 50 year-old groups, respectively. Males above 30 years are better immunized than females. The comparison of the results of the present study with results of several periodic surveys performed in the last 27 years showed gradually increasing immunity level in all age groups. The findings are in agreement with age-dependent incidence of tetanus, which has become now, in Poland, a disease primarily of older people.