Serologic status of women in an urban population in brazil before and after rubella immunization campaign using routine screening data

Abstract

Background. Serologic immunity studies are necessary to evaluate immunization policies for rubella control and prevention of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), and serologic data from regular testing for clinical follow-up can be used to complement surveillance information. Methods. To assess immunity to rubella after an immunization campaign in 12-29-year-old girls and women, we retrospectively reviewed immunoglobulin (Ig) G tests performed from 2000 to 2003 in 9610 serum samples from pregnant subjects in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Serologic tests for rubella were performed using commercial enzyme immunoassays. Results. Rubella IgG were positive in 83.9% of serum samples collected before the campaign and in 92.5% after the campaign. The proportion of seropositive subjects was inversely related to age (P