Abstract
In an outbreak of infection due to Corynebacterium diphtheriae in a hospital for mentally subnormal adults sera from 211 members of staff were screened for diphtheria antitoxin titres. Of these, 79 (37%) required immunisation, and a low dose preparation (1 LfU of diphtheria and 10 LfU tetanus toxoids) was offered. Of the 64 subjects who accepted a single immunisation and were subsequently retested, seroconversion to diphtheria toxoid occurred in 45 (70%), the rate being highest in younger adults. Seroconversion to tetanus toxoid occurred in 59% of subjects. Local reactions to the single dose were reported by 29 (43%) subjects, and nine (13%) experienced moderately severe local reactions and systemic symptoms. We conclude that adults should not be vaccinated without previous screening for susceptibility to diphtheria; that neither previous immunisation nor age is reliable in predicting the need for vaccination; and that though a single booster dose of diphtheria toxoid is probably effective in adults under 45, two doses should be given to those in the older age group.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Collier L. H., Polakoff S., Mortimer J. Reactions and antibody responses to reinforcing doses of adsorbed and plain tetanus vaccines. Lancet. 1979 Jun 30;1(8131):1364–1368. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)92006-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Feery B. J., Benenson A. S., Forsyth J. R., Menser M. A., Minty D. W. Diphtheria immunization in adolescents and adults with reduced doses of adsorbed diphtheria toxoid. Med J Aust. 1981 Feb 7;1(3):128–130. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1981.tb135382.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Middaugh J. P. Side effects of diphtheria-tetanus toxoid in adults. Am J Public Health. 1979 Mar;69(3):246–249. doi: 10.2105/ajph.69.3.246. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Miyamura K., Nishio S., Ito A., Murata R., Kono R. Micro cell culture method for determination of diphtheria toxin and antitoxin titres using VERO cells. I. Studies on factors affecting the toxin and antitoxin titration. J Biol Stand. 1974 Jul;2(3):189–201. doi: 10.1016/0092-1157(74)90015-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sheffield F. W., Ironside A. G., Abbott J. D. Immunisation of adults against diphtheria. Br Med J. 1978 Jul 22;2(6132):249–250. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6132.249-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]