Seroprevalence for Measles, Varicella, Mumps and Rubella in the Trainee Obstetric Population: A Survey in Southern Italy

Overview

Journal Vaccines (Basel)

Date 2024 Mar 28

PMID 38543969

Authors

Brunella Perfetto

Giovanna Paduano

Elena Grimaldi

Vincenza Sansone

Giovanna Donnarumma

Gabriella Di Giuseppe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Despite the efforts of the World Health Organization, some childhood viral diseases, for which there is already an effective vaccine, have not yet been eradicated. Among these, we find varicella, mumps, measles, and rubella, which although in most cases have a benign course, can in some cases be responsible for infectious outbreaks, especially in nosocomial settings. The aim of this study was to verify the immunological situation of a cohort of trainee obstetricians in Campania regarding varicella, mumps, measles, and rubella to be used as an example for the evaluation of possible preventive strategies to avoid infectious outbreaks.

Methods: All the samples collected and sent to the laboratory were eligible for analysis and have been included in the study. Specific IgG for varicella, measles, mumps, and rubella were assayed on serum samples taken from 517 trainee obstetricians using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The seropositivity results were statistically analyzed by correlating them to age group and gender.

Results: The results obtained show that a percentage of trainee obstetricians tested do not have an effective immunological coverage against at least one of the vaccine-preventable diseases considered, especially for mumps.

Conclusions: Therefore, it is proposed to extend surveillance to other professionals in contact with frail patients and increase awareness of vaccination campaigns.

Citing Articles

Seroprevalence Assessment of Anti-Varicella Antibodies among Adults in the Province of Florence (Italy).

Bechini A, Riccio M, Salvati C, Bonito B, Zanella B, Biamonte M Vaccines (Basel). 2024; 12(9).

PMID: 39340086 PMC: 11435818. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12091056.

Immunity to Varicella Zoster Virus in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024).

Ricco M, Ferraro P, Zaffina S, Camisa V, Marchesi F, Franzoso F Vaccines (Basel). 2024; 12(9).

PMID: 39340051 PMC: 11436139. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12091021.

Low Rates of Immunity among Medical Students and Residents in the Era of the Resurgence of Measles.

Ferrari C, Somma G, Caputi V, Treglia M, Pallocci M, Cenko F Pathogens. 2024; 13(9).

PMID: 39338975 PMC: 11435405. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13090784.

Oncolytic Viral Therapy in Osteosarcoma.

Karadimas T, Huynh T, Chose C, Zervoudakis G, Clampitt B, Lapp S Viruses. 2024; 16(7).

PMID: 39066301 PMC: 11281467. DOI: 10.3390/v16071139.

References

Coppeta L, Balbi O, Baldi S, Pietroiusti A, Magrini A . Pre-vaccination IgG screening for mumps is the most cost-effectiveness immunization strategy among Health Care Workers. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2019; 15(5):1135-1138. PMC: 6605818. DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1564442. View

Gorun F, Malita D, Ciohat I, Vilibic-cavlek T, Feier H, Tabain I . Prevalence of Rubella Antibodies among Fertile Women in the West of Romania, 18 Years after the Implementation of Immunization. Vaccines (Basel). 2021; 9(2). PMC: 7912329. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020104. View

Frau N, Meloni F, Fostinelli J, Portas L, Portoghese I, Sala E . Seroepidemiology of Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella in Italian Female School Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study. Vaccines (Basel). 2021; 9(10). PMC: 8538669. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101191. View

Yang J, Liu J, Xing F, Ye H, Dai G, Liu M . Nosocomial transmission of chickenpox and varicella zoster virus seroprevalence rate amongst healthcare workers in a teaching hospital in China. BMC Infect Dis. 2019; 19(1):582. PMC: 6612143. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4222-x. View

Smits G, Mollema L, Hahne S, de Melker H, Tcherniaeva I, Waaijenborg S . Seroprevalence of mumps in The Netherlands: dynamics over a decade with high vaccination coverage and recent outbreaks. PLoS One. 2013; 8(3):e58234. PMC: 3592917. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058234. View

Coppeta L, Rizza S, Balbi O, Baldi S, Pietroiusti A . Lack of protection for measles among Italian nurses. A potential for hospital outbreak. Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2020; 56(3):330-335. DOI: 10.4415/ANN_20_03_11. View

De Donno A, Kuhdari P, Guido M, Rota M, Bella A, Brignole G . Has VZV epidemiology changed in Italy? Results of a seroprevalence study. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016; 13(2):385-390. PMC: 5328229. DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1264828. View

Shin L, Choi J, Huh K, Chung D, Cho S, Jeong J . Trend of immunity against measles and varicella zoster virus in healthcare workers in Korea. Vaccine. 2023; 41(32):4679-4684. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.06.018. View

Chong C, Liu C, Leong Y, Liao S, Lai H, Lee Y . Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus antibody and immunogenicity of live attenuated varicella vaccine in healthcare workers in Taiwan. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2022; 56(2):274-281. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.09.005. View

10.

Bertoncello C, Nicolli A, Maso S, Fonzo M, Crivellaro M, Mason P . Uptake of Non-Mandatory Vaccinations in Future Physicians in Italy. Vaccines (Basel). 2021; 9(9). PMC: 8473324. DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9091035. View

11.

Han S, Park S, Yi Y, Ji S, Jang S, Park M . Measles seroprevalence among healthcare workers in South Korea during the post-elimination period. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021; 17(8):2517-2521. PMC: 8475616. DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1888623. View

12.

Vynnycky E, Knapp J, Papadopoulos T, Cutts F, Hachiya M, Miyano S . Estimates of the global burden of Congenital Rubella Syndrome, 1996-2019. Int J Infect Dis. 2023; 137:149-156. PMC: 10689248. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.09.003. View

13.

Ledda C, Cina D, Garozzo S, Vella F, Consoli A, Scialfa V . Vaccine-preventable disease in healthcare workers in Sicily (Italy): seroprevalence against measles. Future Microbiol. 2019; 14:33-36. DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2018-0263. View

14.

Swamy G, Heine R . Vaccinations for pregnant women. Obstet Gynecol. 2015; 125(1):212-226. PMC: 4286306. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000581. View

15.

Haviari S, Benet T, Saadatian-Elahi M, Andre P, Loulergue P, Vanhems P . Vaccination of healthcare workers: A review. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2015; 11(11):2522-37. PMC: 4685699. DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1082014. View

16.

Lazar M, Stanescu A, Penedos A, Pistol A . Characterisation of measles after the introduction of the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in 2004 with focus on the laboratory data, 2016 to 2019 outbreak, Romania. Euro Surveill. 2019; 24(29). PMC: 6652110. DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.29.1900041. View

17.

Bianchi F, Stefanizzi P, Trerotoli P, Tafuri S . Sex and age as determinants of the seroprevalence of anti-measles IgG among European healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vaccine. 2022; 40(23):3127-3141. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.016. View

18.

Bianchi F, Vimercati L, Mansi F, De Nitto S, Stefanizzi P, Rizzo L . Compliance with immunization and a biological risk assessment of health care workers as part of an occupational health surveillance program: The experience of a university hospital in southern Italy. Am J Infect Control. 2019; 48(4):368-374. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.09.024. View

19.

de la Cuerda A, Tejeda Gonzalez M, Lopez Aparicio A, Monfort Vinuesa C, Lopez Pedraza M, Isidoro B . Seroprevalence for measles among healthcare workers in Madrid, Spain. J Hosp Infect. 2023; 147:63-67. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.11.006. View

20.

von Linstow M, Nielsen A, Kirkby N, Eltvedt A, Nordmann Winther T, Nielsen A . Immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases among paediatric healthcare workers in Denmark, 2019. Euro Surveill. 2021; 26(17). PMC: 8086246. DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.17.2001167. View