Levels of diphtheria and tetanus specific IgG of Portuguese adult women, before and after vaccination with adult type Td. Duration of immunity following vaccination

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The need for tetanus toxoid decennial booster doses has been questioned by some experts. Several counter arguments have been presented, supporting the maintenance of decennial adult booster doses with tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (adult formulation of the vaccine: Td). This study aimed to evaluate the use of Td in Portuguese adult women under routine conditions. For that purpose we selected a group of women 30+ years of age to which vaccination was recommended. We intended to know if pre-vaccination antibody concentrations were associated with factors as age at first and last vaccination, number of doses and time since last revaccination. We also intended to assess the serological efficacy of Td booster.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Following the Portuguese guidelines 100 women were vaccinated with Td. Antitetanus toxin IgG (ATT IgG) and antidiphtheria toxin IgG (ADT IgG) levels were measured (mIU/ml) in 100 pre-vaccination and 91 post-vaccination sera. Detailed vaccination records were available from 88 participants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-two women (Group A) began vaccination with DPT/DT in their early childhood and their pre-vaccination ATT IgG levels increased with the number of doses received (p = 0.022) and decreased with time since last vaccination (p = 0.016). Among the 66 women who began vaccination in adolescence and adulthood (Group B), with monovalent TT, ATT IgG levels decreased with age at first dose (p < 0.001) and with time since last vaccination (p = 0.041). In Group A, antidiphtheria toxin IgG kinetics was very similar to that observed for ATT IgG. Among women not vaccinated with diphtheria toxoid, ADT IgG levels decreased with age. Serological response to both components of Td was good but more pronounced for ATT IgG.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study suggests that, to protect against tetanus, there is no need to administer decennial boosters to the Portuguese adults who have complied with the childhood/adolescent schedule (6 doses of tetanus toxoid). The adult booster intervals could be wider, probably of 20 years. This also seems to apply to protection against diphtheria, but issues on the herd immunity and on the circulation of toxigenic strains need to be better understood.</p

Análise das publicações nacionais sobre educação à distância na enfermagem Análisis de las publicaciones nacionales acerca de la educación a la distancia en enfermería Analysis of national publications about distance education in nursing

O objetivo é analisar as publicações que trabalham a Educação à Distância na Enfermagem nas principais bases de dados de 2005 a 2009. Estudo de revisão de literatura sistemática realizada nas bases de dados da Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde (Lilacs, Scielo e Bdenf), no período de 19/02/09 à 24/04/09 em 20 referências analisadas. Destacam-se como tônica nas discussões: o desenvolvimento de cursos de capacitação para profissionais de enfermagem bem como em disciplinas nos cursos de graduação via Educação à Distância. Há uma evolução da Educação à Distância na Enfermagem com possibilidades de ensino no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem são inesgotáveis e levam em consideração alguns condicionantes relevantes para interatividade como a disponibilidade de cursos de capacitação e disciplinas nos cursos de graduação.<br>El objetivo es examinar las publicaciones que trabajan la educación a distancia en enfermería en las principales bases de datos de 2005 a 2009. Estudio de revisión de literatura realizada en las bases de datos de la Biblioteca Virtual de Salud (Lilacs, Scielo y Bdenf) en el período comprendido entre 19/02/09 al 24/04/09 en 20 referencias. Es tónico en las discusiones: el desarrollo de cursos de capacitación para profisionales de enfermería, cursos en programas de postgrado a través de la educación a distancia. Hay una evolución en la educación a distancia de enfermería con posibilidades de enseñanza en el ambiente virtual de aprendizaje es inagotable y tenen algunas condiciones pertinentes para interactividad como la disponibilidad de cursos de formación y disciplinas de graduación.<br>The objective is to examine the publications working in the Distance Education in nursing in the databases from 2005 to 2009. Study of literature review conducted in the databases of the Virtual Health Library (Lilacs, Scielo and Bdenf) in the period from 19/02/09 to 24/04/09 in 20 selected references were reviewed. It is tonic in the discussions: the development of training courses for nurses and midwives as well as courses in graduate programs via Distance Education. There is an evolution of Distance Education in nursing with possibilities of teaching in virtual environment for learning is everlasting and take into account some constraints relevant to interactivity as the availability of training courses and disciplines in undergraduate courses