Department of Community Medicine, UAE University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P,O, Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE.
BMC Public Health. 2012 Dec 5;12:1047. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1047.
The aims of this study were to assess the seroprevalence of vaccine-preventable infections in Emirati medical students, and to provide scientific evidence for implementation of a cost-effective immunization guideline and policy for medical school admission.
This prospective cohort study involved 261 (61% female) Emirati medical students (preclinical and clinical) attending the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at UAE University. Data on vaccination and history of infectious diseases were collected from participants. Blood samples were collected between July 1, 2011 and May 30, 2012 for serological testing and QuantiFERON®-TB assay.
All students tested negative for infection with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus. The prevalence of seropositivity to rubella virus was 97%, varicella-zoster virus 88%, mumps virus 84%, measles virus 54%, hepatitis B virus (HBV) 48%, and hepatitis A virus 21%. The QuantiFERON®-TB test was positive in 8% and indeterminate in 2%. Forty percent of students received HBV vaccine at birth; their HBV titers (mean ± SD) were 17.2 ± 62.9 mIU/mL (median = 1.64). The remaining 60% received it at school and their titers were 293.4 ± 371.0 mIU/mL (median = 107.7, p = 0.000).
About 50% of students were susceptible to HBV and measles virus; therefore, pre-matriculation screening for antibodies against these viruses is highly recommended. Moreover, tuberculosis screening is necessary because of the high influx of expatriates from endemic areas. Students with inadequate protection should be reimmunized prior to contact with patients.
本研究旨在评估阿联酋医学生中可通过疫苗预防感染的血清流行率，为制定针对医学院入学的具有成本效益的免疫接种指南和政策提供科学依据。
这是一项前瞻性队列研究，共纳入 261 名（61%为女性）阿联酋医学生（临床前和临床），他们均就读于阿联酋大学的医学院和健康科学学院。研究从参与者处收集疫苗接种和传染病史数据。于 2011 年 7 月 1 日至 2012 年 5 月 30 日采集血样，进行血清学检测和 QuantiFERON®-TB 检测。
所有学生的丙型肝炎病毒和人类免疫缺陷病毒检测结果均为阴性。风疹病毒血清阳性率为 97%，水痘-带状疱疹病毒为 88%，腮腺炎病毒为 84%，麻疹病毒为 54%，乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）为 48%，甲型肝炎病毒为 21%。QuantiFERON®-TB 检测阳性率为 8%，不确定率为 2%。40%的学生在出生时接种 HBV 疫苗，其 HBV 滴度（均值±SD）为 17.2±62.9 mIU/mL（中位数=1.64）。其余 60%的学生在学校接种 HBV 疫苗，其滴度为 293.4±371.0 mIU/mL（中位数=107.7，p=0.000）。
约 50%的学生易感染 HBV 和麻疹病毒，因此强烈建议在入学前对这些病毒的抗体进行检测。此外，由于来自流行地区的移民大量涌入，需要进行结核病筛查。对于未充分保护的学生，应在接触患者前进行再次免疫接种。
