Occupational Medicine
Volume 64, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 217-219

Tetanus immunity in construction workers in Italy (Article) (Open Access)

Rapisarda V.* , Bracci M. , Nunnari G. , Ferrante M. , Ledda C.
  • a Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
  • b Department of Clinical and Molecular Science, Occupational Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60020, Italy
  • c Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
  • d Department of G.F. Ingrassia, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
  • e Department of G.F. Ingrassia, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy

Abstract

Background: Tetanus is a serious vaccine-preventable disease that remains a significant health risk in certain occupations. Since 2006, Italy has reported the highest number of cases in Europe. Some professions, such as construction workers, are more exposed to tetanus. Aims: To evaluate tetanus immunity status and associated factors in construction workers in Italy. Methods: A cross-sectional study of construction workers attending for periodic occupational health surveillance at one site in Italy between September 2011 and January 2013. Serum tetanus antitoxin levels were measured and analysed according to demographic and clinical variables. Results: All 5275 workers attending for health surveillance between September 2011 and January 2013 agreed to participate. Protective tetanus antitoxin levels (>0.1 IU/ml) were found in 4116 workers (78%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the following risk factors were significantly associated with inadequate immunization status: older age (age >58 years, odds ratio [OR] 1.78, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 1.76-1.84), poor education (no formal education: OR 3.74, 95% CI: 3.69-3.78), unskilled work tasks (OR 2.71, 95% CI: 2.67-2.77) and country of origin (Egypt: OR 1.72, 95% CI: 1.67-1.77; Morocco: OR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.62-1.76). Conclusions: In this study, a significant proportion of construction workers in Italy were not adequately immunized against tetanus, as required by Italian law. Occupational health professionals should promote and implement vaccination campaigns, especially among migrant workers, for public health and legal reasons. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

construction workers Clostridium tetani Immigrant Italy Vaccine Tetanus

Index Keywords

educational status building industry human middle aged construction industry Cross-Sectional Studies Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent male Tetanus Antitoxin occupational exposure tetanus toxoid immunology adult age Age Factors Italy occupational health vaccination immunization tetanus tetanus antibody
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84897496497&doi=10.1093%2foccmed%2fkqu019&partnerID=40&md5=736289a7a02da9589f45953922fc97e9
DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqu019
ISSN: 09627480
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English