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Long-term immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccination in children and adolescents in a southern Italian town

  • Clinical and Epidemiological Study
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Abstract

Purpose

Universal anti-hepatitis B vaccination of infants and of 12-year-old children became mandatory in Italy in 1991. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-hepatitis B surface (HBs) antibodies several years after a primary course of vaccination.

Methods

In 2010, anti-HBs titers were measured in all subjects aged between 5 and 25 years residing in a southern Italian town. Individuals with an anti-hepatitis B antibody concentration of 10 IU/ml or more were considered to be protected.

Results

Of the 671 subjects evaluated, 149 (30%) lacked protective antibodies. Fifty-three (29.4%) of the subjects had been vaccinated ≤10 years earlier and 96 (30.3%) more than 10 years earlier (P = not significant). Subjects vaccinated in infancy were more likely to lack protective anti-HBs antibodies than subjects vaccinated at 12 years of age, regardless of the years elapsed since immunization.

Conclusions

Most subjects maintained protective antibodies for a considerable number of years after vaccination. Vaccination in adolescence results in more prolonged immunogenicity than vaccination in infancy.

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Acknowledgments

Firstly, we express our thanks to Vera Scalfaro, Mayor of Sersale, without whose assistance it would have been difficult to carry out this study. We also thank, for their contributions, Valentina Tancrè, Antonella Dodaro, Consuelo Teti (Chair of Microbiology, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro); Francesco Cristiano, Daniela Dragone, Concetta Luongo, Giovanni Perri, Gianfranco Rizzuti, Maria Sgura (Nurses, Policlinico Mater Domini-Fondazione Campanella); Orazio Aloe, Maria Astorino, Annita Elia, Emanuele Gabriele, Elisabetta Iuliano, Matilde Olivadese (Nurses, Poliambulatori Sersale); and Vacutest Kima Srl for donating the material required to collect blood samples. Lastly, we are grateful to Jean Ann Gilder (Scientific Communication Srl) for editing the text.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Institute of Tropical Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy

    T. Stroffolini

  2. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy

    V. Guadagnino, B. Caroleo, G. De Sarro & O. Staltari

  3. Department of Medical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy

    A. Focà, M. C. Liberto, A. Giancotti, G. S. Barreca & N. Marascio

  4. National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    F. L. Lombardo

Authors
  1. T. Stroffolini
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  2. V. Guadagnino
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  3. B. Caroleo
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  4. G. De Sarro
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  5. A. Focà
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  6. M. C. Liberto
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  7. A. Giancotti
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  8. G. S. Barreca
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  9. N. Marascio
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  10. F. L. Lombardo
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  11. O. Staltari
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Consortia

“Sersale’s Study” Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Stroffolini.

Additional information

Members of the “Sersale’s Study” Group are listed in the "Appendix".

Appendix

Appendix

“Sersale’s Study” collaborating group: C. Costa, M. R. Scarpino, V. Aiello, G. Pandolfo, L. Scalise (Chair of Infectious Diseases, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro); S. Scalzi (Responsabile Poliambulatori Sersale); A. Elia, F. Lia, T. Perri, P. Valente (Medici di Medicina Generale, Sersale); F. Scalise (Pediatra, Sersale).

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Stroffolini, T., Guadagnino, V., Caroleo, B. et al. Long-term immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccination in children and adolescents in a southern Italian town. Infection 40, 299–302 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-011-0233-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-011-0233-2

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