Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the measles seroprevalence and related factors in healthcare professionals working in units with a high risk of encountering measles cases in Dokuz Eylül University Hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2018 and September 2019.  The study population consisted of all healthcare professionals working as specialist doctors, trainee doctors, and nurses in Pediatric hospital, Adult Emergency, Family Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology and Dermatology departments. Healthcare professionals who agreed to participate were interviewed face-to-face, including questions about independent variables such as gender, age, occupation, working unit, and history of disease. The dependent variable was the seropositivity/seronegativity status of the participants, which was determined according to the quantitative anti-Rubella IgG antibody levels measured by the ELISA method from serum samples. P< 0.05 was accepted as statistical significance.

Results: During the study period, 326 out of 368 healthcare professionals in the units in question agreed to participate (88.5%). Of the participants, 79 (24.2%) were seronegative and 247 (75.8%) were seropositive. Seronegativity increased with decreasing age (p=0.036) when evaluated according to age groups. Seronegativity was 29.4% in the 20-29 age group, 19.2% in the 30-39 age group, and 10.7% in the 40-49 age group, while all participants aged 50 years and over were seropositive.  Seropositivity was not affected by gender (p=0.260), occupation (p=0.364), or department (p=0.129). The study group’s median anti-measles IgG antibody level was 654 IU/ml (65-5000 IU/ml). The median antibody level increased with increasing age (p<0.001).

Conclusion: In our study, a significant proportion of healthcare professionals at risk for encountering measles were susceptible.