[Study of the antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps and varicella-zoster viruses in sera from the medical staffs].

For infection control against measles, rubella, mumps and varicella-zoster viruses in the hospital, it is important to assess the immunity of the medical staff against those viruses and to achieve high immunocompetence in the medical staff by vaccination. We estimated the specific antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps and varicella-zoster viruses by ELISA in 686 care workers (240 men, 446 women) of Yamagata University Hospital. The members (frequencies) without antibodies for each virus were 59 (8.6%) for measles virus, 68 (9.9%) for rubella virus, 104 (18.2%) for mumps virus and 5 (0.7%) for varicella-zoster virus. The ratios of positive antibodies, especially against rubella and mumps viruses, were higher among women than men. To see the relationship between the immunity and age, we studied the numbers without antibodies by dividing the persons by age. The numbers of negative IgG for measles virus were 45 (17.5%) in the persons age of 21-30, 8 (4.3%) in 31-40, 4 (2.4%) in 41-50 and 2 (2.7%) in over 51. The numbers of negative IgG for rubella virus were 21 (8.2%) in the persons age of 21-30, 22 (11.7%) in 31-40, 22 (13.2%) in 41-50 and 3 (4.1%) in over 51. The numbers of negative IgG for mumps virus were 35 (13.6%) in the persons age of 21-30, 39 (20.7%) in 31-40, 22 (13.2%) in 41-50 and 8 (10.8%) in over 51. The numbers of negative IgG for varicella-zoster virus were 4 (1.6%) in the persons age of 21-30 and 1 (0.5%) in 31-40. The rate of the persons without antibodies but who had received vaccination in the past were the following: 46% for measles virus, 21% for rubella virus and 21% for mumps. The results of antibodies were informed individually and the persons without antibody against each virus were recommended to receive a vaccination for each virus.