Sorveglianza Sanitaria e Rischio Biologico: Valutazione dello status vaccinale negli allievi infermieri dell'Università di Parma

ABSTRACT. Health surveillance of biological risk in health care providers (HCWs) aims to protect both the HCWs and the patients which their care for. Among biological risk agents, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Clostridium tetanii toxin are preventable by effective vaccination procedures. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are also cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide: actually, therapies are available, but prevention remains the cornerstone. In our experience, we evaluated serologic status of nurse students of Parma University (245 subjects; mean age 24 years, SD ± 4,8) about HBV, HCV, and Clostridium tetanii toxin vaccination. Also reactivity versus Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated by tubercolin test. Effective tetanus protection was stated only in 54,3% of subjects. Vaccination coverage for HBV was referred by 195 subjects, whereas biological markers resulted negative in 12 of them (non responders subjects), requiring a new vaccinal schedule. No HCV positive subjects were identified. Tubercolin test were positive (> 10 mm) in 14 subjects, actually performing second stage evaluation tests. In conclusion, our results suggest the importance of health surveillance for biological risk in HCWs, reinforcing the need of effective vaccination strategies as the first step of effective prevention of chronic, debilitating diseases.