Publication: Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Revaccination: Is it Beneficial for Tuberculosis Control?
Loading...
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Introduction: Previous studies have proposed the lower waist circumference (WC) cutoffs be used for defining abdominal obesity in Asian populations.
Background: The duration of the protective efficacy of BCG vaccine plays an important role in the establishment of vaccination policies particularly for tuberculosis endemic countries. The effectiveness of revaccination with two or more doses is still a controversial issue. In this systematic review, we qualitatively appraised available epidemiological evidence.
Method: A search strategy using both PubMed and Embase databases and manual search was done up to January 2013. The main search terms used include BCG, revaccination, tuberculosis, mortality and adverse reaction. The studies were grouped by designs; randomized-control trials, cohort and case-control studies. Outcomes were categories into primary outcomes (tuberculosis and mortality from tuberculosis) and secondary outcomes (vaccine efficacy, immunity and adverse reaction from BCG revaccination).
Results: Nine articles were selected and data on the primary and secondary outcomes were extracted. The review noted no significant difference in the incidence rate ratio (range 0.57-1.74), relative risk [0.39 (0.31-0.49)] and hazard ratio [1.20 (0.77-1.89)] from tuberculosis in the BCG revaccinated group compared to BCG non-revaccinated group. Comparison between the two groups also noted no significant difference in the relative risk of adverse reaction [2.3 (0.67-7.80)] and vaccine efficacy [8 (-77-52)], but a significant increase in immune response in revaccinated group.
Conclusion: In summary, our review demonstrated the available evidences do not support BCG revaccination as a strategy to reduce tuberculosis.
Description
Keywords
Bacille calmette-guerin (BCG), Revaccin, Tuberculosis, Adverse reaction, Immunity