Epidemiological and immunological monitoring of tetanus in Georgia (Republic)
Kurashvili, V.A.; Dgebuadze, I.Sh.
Zhurnal Mikrobiologii Epidemiologii i Immunobiologii 2003(1): 70-72
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0372-9311 PMID: 12630359 Document Number: 554757
During the period of 1961-1990 the regular immunological and epidemiological monitoring of tetanus was carried out. At the prevaccination period (1937-1960) 140 cases of tetanus were registered, 77 patients died (morbidity rate being 0.97-0.11 per 100,000 of the population with mortality rate equal to 55.6%). At the period of mass vaccinal prophylaxis (1960-1990) 56 cases were registered and 27 patients died (the corresponding values: 0.09-0.11 with 48.2% mortality). In 1981-1990 altogether 53,213 vaccinees were examined. 4,864 vaccinees (8.9%) proved to be seronegative and 43,615 vaccinees (81.9%) were found to have protective antibody titers. 4,220 pregnant women were examined; 476 women (11.2%) proved to be seronegative and 3,576 women (84.3%) were found to have protective antibody titers. Timely specific prophylaxis proved to be the only way for decreasing tetanus morbidity.