Systematic Review of the Non-Specific Effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccine on Child Mortality

Journal Title: Journal of Infectious Diseases and Treatment - Year 2017, Vol 3, Issue 2

Abstract

Background: Until a different vaccine is given, BCG provides non-specific protection against diseases other than tuberculosis, mainly respiratory infections and sepsis. Methods: A systematic review was made using the databases Medline, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, Scopus and the WHO review of BCG, using the terms BCG, nonspecific effects, heterologous immunity, and child mortality. The objective was to quantify the effect of BCG on all-cause mortality until a different vaccine was given in children up to 5 years of age in low-income countries. Randomized trials and observational studies performed in low-income populations where all-cause mortality was reported were selected. Results: Fifty-nine articles were found. Nine studies had a low to moderate risk of bias; they consisted of two randomized trials, six cohort studies and one case-control study; they were performed in Guinea-Bissau, India, Benin, Malawi and Senegal. The effect estimates were homogeneous, with I2=0.0% (p=0.71). Meta-analysis of all nine studies using a random effects model yielded an effect estimate of 0.56 (95% CI 0.46-0.69). The combined estimate for the two randomized trials of BCG-Denmark that had a low risk of bias was 0. 52 (95% CI 0.33- 0.82). Conclusions: The two randomized trials and the seven observational studies suggests that, until a different vaccine is given, administration of the strains of BCG used in these studies approximately halved all-cause mortality in children under five years of age in these low-income countries.

Authors and Affiliations

Cintia Tavares Cruz, Bruna Almeida, Eduardo Troster, Cardim Oliveira

Keywords

Related Articles

Antibiotic Use And Practices In Selected Fish Farms In The Ashanti Region Of Ghana

Background: Antibiotics may be used in fish farms to prevent or treat bacterial infections especially in hatcheries. This affects a wide range of bacteria and has potential impact on receiving water bodies and fish patho...

Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Escherichia coli Isolated from Out-patient Individuals Attending the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria

A retrospective review of culture media of urine, ascitic fluid, sputum, tracheal aspirate, wound biopsy, antral washouts and blood was taken. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susce...

Dengue Related Deaths at Ibn-Sina Hospital- Al-Mukalla: Causes and Alarming Signals

Objective: To identify the causes and alarming signal of dengue-related deaths during the 2015- 2016 dengue outbreak in Muklalla -Yemen. Settings and design: A prospective descriptive study was conducted in Ib-Sina Hospi...

Systematic Review of the Non-Specific Effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccine on Child Mortality

Background: Until a different vaccine is given, BCG provides non-specific protection against diseases other than tuberculosis, mainly respiratory infections and sepsis. Methods: A systematic review was made using the da...

Meningococcal Disease in Children: Eleven Years of Active Surveillance in a Mexican Hospital and the Need for Vaccination in the Tijuana Region

In Mexico, Meningococcal Disease (MD) is considered to be a rare disease; however, several studies done using active surveillance have proved the opposite. Since October-2005 until September-2016 (eleven years), active s...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP299279
  • DOI 10.21767/2472-1093.100035
  • Views 70
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Cintia Tavares Cruz, Bruna Almeida, Eduardo Troster, Cardim Oliveira (2017). Systematic Review of the Non-Specific Effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccine on Child Mortality. Journal of Infectious Diseases and Treatment, 3(2), 1-8. https://europub.co.uk./articles/-A-299279