Vitale Ermanno, Filetti Veronica, Bertolazzi Giorgio, Giorgianni Gabriele, Zagorianakou Nektaria, Marino Andrea, Esposito Massimiliano, Restivo Vincenzo, Matera Serena, Rapisarda Venerando, Cirrincione Luigi
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna "Kore", 94100 Enna, Italy.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
Vaccines (Basel). 2024 Dec 2;12(12):1363. doi: 10.3390/vaccines12121363.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Tetanus is a serious, non-contagious infection caused by , which remains a global health threat despite the availability of an effective vaccine. The current state of immunization for agricultural workers in Italy reveals significant disparities, reflecting a non-homogeneous distribution of vaccination coverage across regions and subgroups. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of tetanus antibodies in a cohort of agricultural workers in Eastern Sicily in order to evaluate possible public health strategies for improving vaccination coverage.
This observational retrospective study assessed tetanus immunization coverage in agricultural workers in Eastern Sicily during the period from 2012-2022.
A total of 1143 workers participated, of which 71% (n = 871) had protective tetanus antitoxin levels. Of the 835 vaccinated workers, 9% were not immune, while 19% of those who were not vaccinated or did not recall their vaccination history were immune. Significant gaps in vaccination were noted, particularly among non-European workers, with only 23% vaccinated compared to 89% of European workers. Additionally, vaccination rates were higher in those born after 1963, when vaccination became mandatory.
The results underscore the need for targeted vaccination strategies, especially for older and migrant workers, as well as the importance of workplace immunization programs led by occupational physicians. Improving vaccination coverage among agricultural workers is essential for preventing tetanus infections in high-risk agricultural populations.
背景/目的：破伤风是一种由[未提及的病原体]引起的严重非传染性感染，尽管有有效的疫苗，但它仍然是全球健康威胁。意大利农业工人的免疫现状显示出显著差异，反映出疫苗接种覆盖率在不同地区和亚组中的分布不均。本研究的目的是调查西西里岛东部一群农业工人中破伤风抗体的流行情况，以评估可能改善疫苗接种覆盖率的公共卫生策略。
这项观察性回顾性研究评估了2012年至2022年期间西西里岛东部农业工人的破伤风免疫覆盖率。
共有1143名工人参与，其中71%（n = 871）的人破伤风抗毒素水平具有保护性。在835名接种疫苗的工人中，9%没有免疫力，而在未接种疫苗或不记得接种史的工人中，19%有免疫力。注意到疫苗接种存在显著差距，特别是在非欧洲工人中，只有23%接种了疫苗，而欧洲工人的这一比例为89%。此外，1963年以后出生的人接种率更高，当时接种疫苗成为强制性要求。
结果强调了有针对性的疫苗接种策略的必要性，特别是针对老年工人和移民工人，以及职业医生主导的工作场所免疫计划的重要性。提高农业工人的疫苗接种覆盖率对于预防高危农业人群中的破伤风感染至关重要。
