Pertussis seroprevalence in Dokuz Eylül University Hospital pediatric hospital health care workers

Aim: Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease and has a fatal course in infants. The World Health Organization, emphasizes that the most appropriate vaccine strategy for each country can be developed only with effective pertussis surveillance. There is no pertussis seroprevalence study in pediatric hospital healthcare workers, one of the most important target populations in our country. For this reason, in our study, we evaluated the pertussis seroprevalence in health workers of a university children's hospital; The aim of this study is to provide data for the development of vaccine strategies in our country. Materials and Methods: Healthcare workers in Dokuz Eylul University (DEU) Pediatric Hospital between January 2018 and March 2019 were included in this study. In this cross-sectional study, the data record form was filled by face to face interview method. Anti-Pertussis Toxin Immunoglobulin G (Anti-PT IgG) levels were measured by Enzyme-Linked-Immunosrobent Assay (ELISA) method. The results were analyzed with the Social Package fort the Social Sciences (SPSS) 15. Results: Of the 169 health workers included in this study, 102 (60,4%) were seropositive and 67 (39,6%) were seronegative and susceptible to pertussis. Anti-PT IgG levels of three (1,8%) health workers were compatible with acute infection (≥ 100 IU / ml). Although 74% of the study group indicated that pertussis vaccine booster dose was necessary and safe; only three (1,8%) had a pertussis booster dose. Conclusions: The fact that, an important portion of our study group was seronegative highlights the need for pertussis vaccine booster dose. Although most of the group found pertussis vaccine booster dose as necessary and safe, they did not take the vaccination, indicating that awareness did not cause behavior change. This suggests that pertussis can be seen in all age groups, including infants, and that pertussis eradication cannot be achieved unless effective adult immunization and surveillance is performed.