RUBELLA SEROLOGY IN MENTALLY-RETARDED ADULTS

Background. Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome remain a problem i n the United States; institutionalized individuals are at higher risk. We assessed demographic variables and rubella serology in a populatio n of institutionalized adults with mental retardation. Methods, Subjec ts were 181 institutionalized adults with mental retardation. We revie wed charts to determine patient's age, sex, race, and fertility status (if female), cause of mental retardation, and rubella history. Serolo gic testing to determine rubella immunity was done. Results. We found that 26.4% of subjects were nonimmune. Sex, cause of mental retardatio n, and history of rubella vaccination were not related to serologic im munity status. Of the 29 fertile female subjects, 8 (27.6%) were nonim mune to rubella. Conclusion. Subjects with unknown immunization status had a similar serologic profile to those whose medical records indica ted immunization. Neither history of infection nor immunization was pr edictive of serology status.