B.C.G. and Vole Bacillus Vaccines in the Prevention of Tuberculosis in Adolescence and Early Adult Life

Abstract

This paper reports the 15-year results of a controlled clinical trial of BCG and vole bacillus vaccines in the prevention of TB.Among 54 239 participants, 583 cases of TB developed, of which 70 % were ofpulmonary TB and 15 % of tuberculous pleural effusion without evidence of pulmonary TB.The annual incidence (per 1 000) of TB was 0.28 among the 13 598 BCG-vaccinated participants and 1.28 among the tuberculin-negative unvaccinated participants admitted concurrently (a 78 % reduction); for vole bacillus vaccine (5 817participants) thefigures were 0.29 and 1.50 (an 81 % reduction).Protection extended to all forms of TB (in particular, 10 cases of tuberculous meningitis or miliary pulmonary TB developed in unvaccinated, and none in vaccinated, participants) and was similar in the two sexes.It decreased gradually during the period but was still substantial * See page 383.